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THE 


NATIVE  FLOWERS  AND  FERNS 

OF  THE   UNITED  STATES 

IN    THEIR    BOTANICAL,    HORTICULTURAL,    AND 
POPULAR    ASPECTS. 


BY 


THOMAS     MEEHAN, 

PROKICSSOli    OF   VliGETABLE    PHYSIOLOGY   TO   THE   PENNSYLVANIA    STATE    BOARD 

OF   AGRICULTURE,    EDITOR    OF    THE   GARDENERS' 

MONTHLY,   ETC.,    ETC. 


volume:    I  . 


ILLUSTRATED     V.Y     C  II  RO  M  O  L  I  T  11  OG  R  A  P  II  S, 


BOSTON: 

L.  PRANG  AND  COMPANY. 

1S78. 


Copyright,  A.  D.  1878, 
Bv    L.    PRANG    &    CO. 


PREFACE. 


HE  want  of  a  systematic,  illustrated  work  on  the  Flora  of  the 
United  States  has  long  been  felt.  Some  time  ago  the  author 
of  the  present  volumes  seriously  entertained  a  project  for  such  an  under- 
taking, and  even  went  so  far  as  to  issue  a  prospectus.  But  the  diffi- 
culties in  the  way  of  the  enterprise  seemed  so  formidable  that  it  was 
thought  prudent  to  abandon  it.  The  difficulties  alluded  to  can  readily 
be  perceived.  A  glance  at  the  vast  extent  of  our  country,  with  its 
widely  differing  conditions  of  soil,  climate,  and  position,  is  sufficient  to 
convince  even  the  most  superficial  observer  that  the  task  of  describing 
and  illustrating  its  Flora  is  one  which  might  well  cause  even  the  most 
courageous  of  botanists  to  hold  aloof.  To  complete  such  a  work  in  the 
lifetime  of  one  man  would  be  impossible,  and  this  consideration  was  one 
of  the  main  reasons  which  determined  the  author  to  abandon  his  project. 
In  this  determination  he  was  strengthened  by  another  consideration, 
which,  although  of  an  entirely  different  nature,  seemed  to  be  quite  as 
potent  as  the  first.  A  purely  scientific  and  systematic  treatise  on  the 
Flora  of  the  United  States,  in  the  sense  in  which  such  a  work  would  l^e 
understood  by  the  botanist,  must  necessarily  be  limited  to  a  small 
circle  of  readers,  and  even  in  this  small  circle  there  would  be  but  few 
who  would  care  to  subscribe  to  a  work,  the  end  of  which  they  might 
never  live  to  see.  While,  therefore,  such  an  undertaking  was  clearly  an 
impossibility  from  the  author's  point  of  view,  it  was  equally  evident  that 
no  publisher  could  be  found  ready  to  invest  in  it. 

Under  these  circumstances,  the  fact  that  a  work  on  "  The  Native 
Flowers  and  Ferns  of  the  United  States  "  is  offered  to  the  public 
may  need  a  few  words  of  explanation. 

The  plan  of  the  present  work  differs   totally   from  that   of  the  one 


IV 


PREFACE, 


previously  contemplated.  In  treating  the  subject,  no  attempt  will  be 
made  to  be  scientifically  systematic,  from  the  botanist's  standpoint. 
Instead  of  the  Flora  of  the  United  States,  the  work  will  embrace  simply 
a  selection  of  the  flowers  and  ferns  indigenous  to  our  country.  It  will 
be  an  anthology  in  the  truest  sense  of  the  word,  and  will  not  aim  at  any- 
thing further  than  to  cull  the  most  beautiful,  interesting,  and  important 
from  among  the  vast  number  of  plants  which  grow  in  the  different  parts 
of  our  country.  Again,  in  order  to  secure  the  wide  patronage  which  is 
absolutely  necessary  to  sustain  an  undertaking  of  this  nature,  it  has  been 
deemed  advisable  not  to  devote  the  text  exclusively  to  scientific  descrip- 
tions, but  while  making  it  accurate  in  this  respect,  to  seek  rather,  by  a 
familiar  treatment  of  the  subject,  to  lift  our  native  flowers  out  of  the 
confined  limits  of  pure  science,  and  thus  to  make  the  work  serviceable 
and  accessible,  not  only  to  the  botanist  proper,  but  also  to  the  practical 
cultivator,  and  to  the  great  body  of  intelligent  people  at  large. 

It  must  not  be  inferred  from  this,  however,  that  the  work  is  absolutely 
without  system.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  selection  made  for  these  two 
volumes  covers  a  wide  range  of  country,  and  ofiers  a  number  of  represent- 
atives of  leading  genera,  chosen  with  reference  to  their  various  habits, 
and  to  different  geographical  centres.  These  volumes  are  therefore 
absolutely  complete  in  themselves,  and  may  be  said  to  give  a  good  gen- 
eral idea  of  the  floral  wealth  of  our  country.  Those  who  are  satisfied 
with  the  knowledge  thus  obtained  may  rest  here.  But  it  is  hoped  that 
the  more  enthusiastic  lovers  of  flowers  will  welcome  the  succeeding 
volumes,  which  it  is  proposed  to  publish  after  the  conclusion  of  this 
series.  Each  of  the  following  series  is  also  to  consist  of  two  volumes, 
and  to  form  a  complete  whole  by  itself. 

With  such  a  plan  of  publication  settled  upon,  and  with  the  assistance 
of  a  competent  botanical  artist  assured,  the  author  felt  no  hesitation 
in  again  taking  up  his  favorite  project,  more  especially  when  Messrs. 
L.  Prang  &  Co.  consented  to  become  the  publishers.  The  work  of 
Mr.  Alois  Lunzer,  who  painted  from  life  all  the  plants  treated  in  these 
volumes,  the  writer  heartily  commends,  believing  it  will  favorably  com- 
pare with  the  best  hitherto  attempted  in  this  country,  both  as  regards 
scientific  accuracy  and  pictorial  excellence.  To  extol  the  merits  of  the 
chromolithographic  reproductions  executed  by  the  publishers  would  be 
simply  superfluous,  in  view  of  the  widespread  reputation  of  the  firm,  and 
with  the  plates  in  this  work  before  the  eyes  of  the  reader. 

Much  of   the  success  of  the   enterprise  is   due    to    the  kindness  of 


PREFACE.  V 

botanists  all  over  the  country,  who  have  furnished  specimens  of  plants 

from   their  various  localities  with  the  greatest  readiness.     The  author 

must,   for  the   present,    content    himself  with   this    general    expression 

of  his  gratitude,  as  the  list  of  names   to  be   mentioned   is  altogether 

too  long  for  insertion  in  this   place,  and  as  due  credit  will  be  given 

in   the   text   in   each   individual  case.      But  justice  and  gratitude  both 

demand  that  a  special  acknowledgment  should  be  made,  even  here,  of 

the  many  favors  received  at  the  hands  of  the  authorities  of  the  Botanical 

Garden  at  Cambridge.     The  unrivalled  facilities  of  this  institution  have 

been  extended  to  the  writer,  and  to  all  those  associated  with  him  in  the 

preparation  of  this  work,  with  an  unfailing  courtesy,  for  which  it  seems 

almost  impossible  to  return  adequate  thanks  in  words. 

It  only  remains  that  the  author  should  say  a  word  in  regard  to  his  own 

share  in  the  undertaking.     As  already  stated,  the  present  work  is  not 

exclusively  botanical  in  its  character,  but  is  intended  to  be  a  contribution 

to  general  intelligence.     American  botanists  have  done  their  task  so  well, 

that  there  is  scarcely  room  for  even  an  illustrated  work  with  botanical 

aims  alone.     Indeed,  but  for  the  labors  of    Professor  Gray,  Professor 

Wood,  Dr.  Chapman,  Mr.  Sereno  Watson,  and  other  botanists  still  living, 

and  of  the  many  who  have  gone  before,  the  work  could  not  have  been 

undertaken  at  all.     The   author's   task,   therefore,  has  been  chiefly  to 

point  out  the  lessons  which  their  labors  teach.     They  have  sown  the 

seed,  —  he  shows  how  to  gather  the  crop.     He  may  not  have  told  all 

that   might  have  been  said  ;  but  he  believes  enough  has  been  brought 

together  to  lend  fresh  interest  to  the  even  more  than  twice-told  tale  of 

our  native  flowers. 

THOMAS    MEEHAN. 

Germantown,  Philadelphia,  May,  1878. 


CONTENTS    OF    VOLUME    I. 


PAGH 
TrADESCANTIA    ViRGlNlCA. 

Spiderwort i 

Geum  triflorum. 

Three-flowered  Avens 5 

Gelsemium  sempervirens. 

Carolina  Jasmine,  or  Yellow  Jasmine 9 

POLYPOUIUM    INCANUM. 

Hoary  Polypody •  13 

Viola  cucullata. 

Common  Blue  Violet 17 

Anemone  nemorosa. 

Wind-Flower,  or  Wood  Anemone 21 

Aquilegia  chrysantha. 

Golden  Columbine 25 

Pachysandra  procumkens. 

American  Thick-Stamen 29 

Helonias  bullata. 

Stud-Flower 33 

Carex  strict  a. 

Tussock-Sedge 37 

Cuphea  viscosissima. 

Blue  Wax-Weed 41 

Thalictrum  dioicum. 

Early  Meadow-Rue 45 

Anemone  patens,  var.  NutTalliana. 

Nuttall's  Pasque-Flower 49 


Vlll  CONTENTS    OF    VOLUME    I. 

•  PAGE 

Orchis  spectabilis. 

Showy  Orchis,  or  Preacher  in  the  I'lilpit r-, 

Symplocarpus  fcetidus. 

Skunk  Cabbage C7 

Pedicularis  Canadensis. 

Common  Wood-Betony 61 

Erythronium  Americanum. 

Yellow  Dog-Tooth  Violet 65 

Phlox  subulata. 

Moss-Pink Gr, 

Saxifraga  Virginiensis. 

Early  White  Saxifrage 7-3 

Arctostaphylos  Uva-Ursi. 

Bear-Berry 77 

Tephrosia  Virginiana. 

Virginian  Goat's  Rue, or  Iloary  Pea Si 

Sedum  Nevii. 

Nevius'  Stone-Crop Sc 

Platanthera  fimbriata. 

Great  Fringed  Orchis Sg 

Limnanthemum  lacunosum. 

Floating  Heart 03 

HOUSTONIA    C^RULEA. 

Bluets 07 

Viola  pedata. 

Bird's-Foot  Violet loi 

Calla  palustris. 

Bog-Arum 105 

Euphorbia  corollata. 

Plowering  Spurge log 

POTENTILLA    FRUTICOSA. 

Shrubby  Cinque-Foil    .         .         . 11-7 

LiNUM    PEKENNE, 

Perennial  Flax 117 

XaN'I'HOSOMA   SAGirriFOLIA. 

Arrow- Leaved  Spoonflower 121 

Cassandra  calyculata. 

Leather- Leaf,  or  Cassandra 125 


CONTENTS    OF    VOLUME    I.  IX 

PAGE 

Viola  sagittata. 

Arrow-Leaved  Violet 129 

Gerardia  pedicularia. 

Fern-Leaved  False  Foxglove 133 

Calochortus  luteus. 

Yellow  Pretty-Grass 137 

Iris  versicolor. 

Blue  Flag 141 

POGONIA    OPHIOGLOSSOIDES. 

Snake-Mouth 145 

ClEOME    rUNGENS. 

Prickly  Cleome,  or  Spider-Flower 149 

ACTINOMERIS   SQUARROSA. 

Squarrose  Actinomevis         ..........  153 

Claytonia  Virginica. 

Spring-Beauty,  or  Notch- Petalled  Claytonia         .         ,         .         .         .         .  157 

ASl'LENIUM   TrICHOMANES. 

English  Maiden-Hair,  or  Dwarf  Spleenwort i6i 

Anemone  Caroliniana. 

Carolina  Anemone 165 

Rosa  Carolina. 

Swamp  Rose         .      ^  .         .         .         .         .         .         .         •         •         •         •         169 

Pachystima  Canbyi. 

Canby's  Mountain-Lover 173 

Spiranthes  cernua. 

Drooping- Flowered  Ladies'  Traces I77 

Phlox  reptans. 

Crawling  Phlox '81 

Chrvsopsis  Mariana. 

Maryland  Golden  Star 1S5 

Iris  Vikginiga. 

lioston  Iris  .  .  .  .  .         .  .  .  •         .  •  •  '5^9 


TRADESCANTIA    VIRGINICA. 

SPIDERWORT. 

NATURAL  ORDER,  COMMELYNACE^E. 

TRADESCANTIA  ViRGlNiCA,  L.  —  Leaves  lance-linear,  elongated,  tapering  from  the  sheathing 
base  to  the  point,  ciliate,  more  or  less  open ;  umbels  terminal,  sessile,  clustered,  many- 
flowered,  usually  involucrate  by  two  leaves ;  plant  either  smooth  or  hairy,  with  flowers 
of  blue,  purple,  or  white.  (Gray's  Maiiual  of  the  Botany  of  the  Northern  United  States. 
See  also  Wood's  Class-Book  of  Botany,  and  Chapman's  Flora  of  the  Southern.  Utiited  States.) 

HE   "  Splderwort "    was    one    of   the   first    of    our  native 
flowers  to  find  a  home  in  England,  having  been  carried 
to    that    country   from    Virginia    by    the    younger    Tradescant, 
according   to    Parkinson,    before    1629.      Prof.    Gray    maintains 
that  the  genus  is  dedicated  to  the  elder  Tradescant,  who  v/as 
gardener    to    King    Charles    I,    but    other   writers    say    it   was 
intended    to    commemorate    in    the    name    the    services    of    the 
younger  as  well.      Before   Tournefort  and   Linnceus  had  made 
botany  simple  by  reducing  the  Latin  names  given  to  each  plant 
to  two,  the  generic  and  the  specific,  or  in  other  words,  the  noun 
and  its   adjective,  Latin  names  of  a  much  greater  length   had 
been  applied  to  many  plants,  and  our  plant  on  its  introduction 
to   England    was    accordingly    called    Phalajigiiim    Ephcmerum 
Virginiamtm  Johainiis  Tradcscanti.     The  contrast  between  the 
old  and  the  new  name  will  show  how  much  we  have  gained  by 
the  innovation  of  Linn^us,  although  there  are  still  some  persons 
w^io  think  botanical  names  hard  to  learn.     It  is  from  the  name 
Phalangmm,  however,  that  our  plant  has  been  called  "Spider- 
wort,"  and  not  "  because  the  juice  of  the  plant  is  viscid  and  spins 
into    thread,"   as    suggested  by    Prof.  Wood.      Pliny   speaks   of 
P halangium  as  a  venomous  spider,  the  bite  of  which  was  said 


2  TRADESCANTIA    VIRGINICA. SPIDERWORT. 

to  be  poisonous,  and  the  same  name,  and  also  Phalangites,  was 

given  to  an  herb  which  would  cure  the  spider's  sting.     Those 

who  have  made  spiders  a  subject  of  special  study,  notably  the 

Rev.  Dr.  McCook,  believe  that  there  is  more  dramatic  poetry 

than    honest    prose   in   poisonous   spider    stories,   and   that   the 

majority  of  spiders  are  entirely  innocuous,  while  the  few  which 

may  be  venomous  are  but  slightly  so.     They  have,  of  course,  no 

stings,  but  articulated  jaws,  by  which,  if  at  all,  they  misbehave 

themselves.     However,  we  are  but  dealing  with  the  past.     The 

ancients  believed  there  were  those  who  were   stung,  and  that 

their  Phalangites  was  the  remedy.     We  are  told  that  "  the  roots 

being  tun'd  up  with  new  ale  and  drunk  for  a  month  together,  it 

expels  poison,  yea  tho'  it  be  universally  spread  through  the  whole 

body."     This  must,  however,  have  reference  to  some  other  plant 

to  which  the  same  name  was  applied,  apparently  a  sort  of  lily 

allied    to    Antliericnm,  with    which,    in    the    then    condition    of 

knowledge,  the  Tradcscantia  Virghiica  was  wrongly  associated. 

But  it  fully  accounts  for  the  English  name  "  Spiderwort,"  wort 

being  the  old  Saxon  name  for  "  plant."     Our  true  Tradescantias 

are  not  known  to  possess  any  medicinal  virtues. 

The    French  common  name  of  the  plant  is  EpJmnerine  de 

Virginic,   taken,   as  we   may   readily  see,   from  the  early  Latin 

name  given  it  by  the  English  authors.     In  many  parts  of  our 

country  it  has  received  the  name  of  "Starflowcr,"  and  even  (in 

Minnesota  for  instance) "  Star  of  Bethlehem  " ;  but  as  these  names 

are  not  only  inappropriate,  but  are  also  applied  to  so  many  other 

flowers,  it  is  best  that  they  should  be  dropped  for  "  Spiderwort." 

The  French  EpJiemcrine  is  a  very  good  name,  for  the  flowers 

remain  open  but  a  single  day,  although  there  are  others  ready 

to  take  their  places  in  long  succession.     The  poetic  sentiments 

associated  with  flowers  are  often  far-fetched,  but  as  emblematic 

of  "transient  happiness"  the  "Spiderwort"  is  appropriate.     Says 

Byron,  — 

"There  comes 

Forever  something  between  us  and  what 

We  deem  our  happiness," 


TRADESCANTIA    VIRGINICA. SPIDERWORT.  3 

and  this  could  well  be  echoed  by  this  flower.  It  is  hardly 
called  to  the  enjoyment  of  the  light  of  day  before  its  doom  is 
sealed,  and  it  becomes 

"  Like  a  frail  shadow  seen  in  maze, 

Or  some  bright  star  shot  o'er  the  ocean." 

The  flowering  of  the  plant  is  of  great  interest  to  the  close 
observer.  The  buds  in  the  umbel  are  recurved ;  just  before 
they  flower  they  become  erect,  and  after  fading  they  bend  down 
and  perfect  their  seed,  although  sometimes,  as  Dr.  Darlington 
remarks,  failing  in  that  particular.  Under  a  lens  the  stamens 
exhibit  remarkable  beauty,  being  clothed  in  the  lower  part  with 
long,  jointed  hairs,  looking  like  threads  of  the  richest  twisted 
silk.  The  kidney-shaped  anther,  with  its  golden  tint,  hung  to 
the  filament  by  the  slenderest  of  connectives,  will  also  attract 
attention. 

The  flowers  of  our  plants  are  found  of  many  beautiful  colors. 
The  most  common  color  is  a  reddish  violet,  but  a  pale  rose,  as 
well  as  a  deeper  rose,  and  vermilion,  carmine,  light  purple,  and 
white  arc  by  no  means  uncommon  in  gardens.  Those  we 
picture  are  from  specimens  gathered  for  us  by  Mr.  Sternberg, 
near  Fort  Hays,  in  Kansas.  The  smooth  forms  of  the  stalk  and 
leaf  will  occasionally  come  out  from  the  same  stock  with  the 
hairy  forms ;  the  smooth  forms,  however,  usually  prevail  in  the 
East.  In  o-ardens  the  flowers  are  often  found  double.  There 
are  few  plants  more  deserving  the  florist's  attention.  It  is  a 
remarkably  easy  plant  to  cultivate.  When  once  In  good  garden 
soil,  it  will  take  care  of  itself,  and  continue  year  after  year,  in 
spite  of  accidents,  which,  as  every  cultivator  knows,  seem  succes- 
sively to  destroy  more  delicate  species ;  yet  it  does  not  spread 
annoylngly,  as  some  do,  but  waits  for  the  gardener  to  divide  the 
root  stocks  when  he  desires  more  plants.  The  tendency  to  vary, 
already  noted,  and  to  produce  double  flowers,  shows  how  easily 
improvements  might  be  directed  by  a  skilful  hand.  Even  as  we 
find  it,  it  is  one  of  the  best  border  plants  we  have.  It  is  in 
flower  most  of  the  month  of  May. 


4  TRADESCANTIA    VIRGINICA. SPIDERWORT. 

The  western  boundary  for  the  "  Spiderwort "  seems  to  be  formed 
by  the  Rocky  Mountains.  The  writer  has  found  it  on  the  foot- 
hills near  Pike's  Peak,  and  it  is  reported  to  have  been  met  with 
in  higher  elevations.  Its  chief  home  appears  to  be  from  Florida 
northwestward,  not  favoring  much  the  New  England  States. 
It  varies  very  much  in  its  choice  of  location.  In  the  East,  we 
usually  find  it  in  low  meadows,  —  even  some  that  are  quite 
wet,  —  among  the  grass.  On  the  prairies,  it  is  found  in  much 
drier  places  as  a  rule ;  while,  in  Colorado,  I  have  found  it  in  dry 
sand,  and  one  would  almost  class  it  there  with  plants  which  love 
aridity.  It  is  rare  that  we  find  such  a  happy  disposition  among 
vegetable  beings. 


Explanation  of  the  Plate.  —  i.  The  most  common  form  found  in  Kansas. — 2.  Smooth 
form  (leaf  from  a  flower  stem).  —  3.  Varieties  of  color.  —  4.  Base  of  the  plant,  with 
fibrous  roots. 


.Plate 


'TPPIIM. 


GEUM    TRIFLORUM. 

THREE-FLOWERED    A  YENS. 

NATURAL   ORDER,   ROSACE/E. 

Geum  TRIFLORUM,  Pursh.  —  Villous  ;  stem  ei^ect,  about  three-flowered;  leaves  mostly  radical, 
interruptedly  pinnate,  of  numerous  cuneate,  incisely  dentate,  subequal  leaflets ;  bractlets 
linear,  longer  than  the  sepals  ;  styles  plumose,  very  long  in  fruit ;  stems  scarcely  a  foot 
high,  with  a  pair  of  opposite  laciniate  leaves  near  the  middle,  and  several  bracts  at  the 
base  of  the  long,  slender  peduncles.  (Wood's  Class-Book  of  Botany.  See  also  Gray's 
Jlfatuial ;  Torrey  and  Gray's  Flora  of  the  United  States;  Watson's  Botany  of  Clarence 
King's  Expedition  ;  and  the  Botany  of  the  California  Geological  Suj-vey.) 

Y  old  English  botanists  the  plants  we  now  know  as  Gciim 
were  called  "  Avens."  An  old  author,  writing  before  the 
time  of  Linnceus,  says,  "The  Avens,  for  all  that  we  can  learn, 
was  unknown  to  the  Greeks,  and  therefore  we  can  furnish  you 
with  no  Greek  name  for  it,  but  it  is  called  in  Latin  Caryop/iyliata^ 
from  the  roots  smelling  like  cloves.  It  is,  however,  supposed  to 
be  the  Gaim  referred  to  by  Pliny,  the  Roman  writer,  in  his 
History."  The  name  Gcum,  however,  is  from  the  Greek  geuo^ 
and  signifies  "  a  good  taste,"  referring  to  the  taste  of  the  roots, 
as  alluded  to  by  the  writer  aforesaid.  All  the  members  of 
this  family  have  more  or  less  of  this  aromatic  character,  and 
some  of  the  species  are  used  as  tea  where  mild  tonics  are  useful. 
Our  pretty  species  is  found  only  in  the  extreme  northeast 
of  the  Atlantic  United  States,  but  takes  a  miore  southerly  range 
as  it  goes  westward.  It  is  found  in  Colorado,  in  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  in  the  mountains  of  Utah,  in  the  Sierra  Nevada, 
and  most  of  the  high  regions  of  the  Pacific  Coast.  It  was  first 
found  by  the  American  botanist  Pursh,  who  named  it  G.  trijiorum^ 
from  its  almost  always  having  but  three  flowers  on  a  stem,  as 


9 


0 


6  GEUM    TRIFLORUM. THREE-FLOWERED    AVENS. 

shown  in  our  drawing.  But  Willdenow  divided  the  genus,  and 
made  part  into  Sieversia,  in  honor  of  M.  Sievers,  a  Russian 
botanist,  and  into  this  division  our  plant  was  placed.  The 
Gcuins  of  Willdenow  had  hooked  and  naked  permanent  styles 
to  the  seeds,  while  the  Sicvcrsias  have  feathery,  down-like  styles, 
similar  to  Clematis.     Modern  botanists,  however,  rank  them  all 

as  Geiim. 

As  will  be  seen  by  our  plate,  the  subject  of  this  chapter 
belono-s  to  the  Sievers ia  section.  In  old  works  it  is  known  as 
S.  triflora.  Its  feathery  awns  afford  an  interesting  study.  In 
the  other  section  of  Gciun,  the  style  is  pointed,  and,  when  the 
ovules  are  fertilized,  falls  away.  In  this  section,  the  styles  have 
not  this  articulation ;  and  thus,  after  fertilization,  they  continue 
to  grow,  and  eventually  become  the  pretty,  feathery  heads  we 
find  them.  The  laws  which  regulate  these  differences  are  still 
obscure,  and  the  subject  offers  an  inviting  field  of  study  to  those 
who  love  to  pry  into  the  mysteries  of  plant-life.  We  may  note 
that,  in  a  general  way,  the  law  which  decides  these  peculiarities 
generally  influences,  in  some  manner  more  or  less  similar,  all 
related  parts.  For  instance,  in  the  section  of  Gemn  with  pointed 
styles,  we  find,  as  the  seeds  or  carpels  grow,  the  remains  become 
curved,  and  give  a  hooked  character  to  the  seeds ;  and  in  these 
cases  the  sepals  or  calyx  leaves  are  inclined  to  recurve  or 
become  reflexed  also.  In  our  plant,  the  awns  grow  erect,  there 
is  no  recurving  tendency,  and  the  sepals  and  petals  follow  the 
same  course.  This  is,  perhaps,  to  be  expected  as  the  result  of 
morphological  law.  If,  as  we  must  believe,  the  calyx,  corolla, 
stamens,  and  pistils  are  but  the  leaves  of  the  plant  successively 
changed  into  these  organs,  the  unity  of  the  law,  as  affecting 
behavior,  may  be  at  once  suspected.  Even  when  appearances 
are  against  this  proposition,  we  may  often  find  that,  though 
seemingly  divergent,  they  are  essentially  the  same. 

The  chief  beauty  of  the  "  Three-flowered  Avens  "  is  in  the  rosy 
red  parts  of  the  inflorescence,  which  gradually  deepens  up  from 
the  green-feathered  foliage.     The  long,  slender,  involucral  Ijracts 


GEUM    TRIFLORUM. THREE-FLOWERED    AVENS.  7 

and  the  colored  sepals  constitute  all  we  can  popularly  call  a 
flower.  The  pale  pink-white  petals  show  just  beyond  the  calyx, 
but,  so  far  as  the  writer  has  ever  been  able  to  note,  do  not 
expand  sufficiently  to  be  more  visible.  Unless  examined  closely, 
the  petals  would  be  rarely  seen.  The  flowers  are  at  first 
nodding,  but  at  length  become  erect. 

We  cannot  but  think,  however,  that  true  taste  will  see  in  the 
foliage  very  much  to  admire.  The  finely  cut  leaf  is  suggestive 
of  the  much-admired  fern,  and  indeed,  in  this  respect,  it  is 
superior  to  many  of  that  family,  but  it  wants  the  delicacy  of 
texture  which,  as  much  as  elegance  of  form,  gives  the  fern  so 
much  beauty;  still  its  rough  and  heavy  character  is  in  harmony 
with  its  position  as  a  flowering  plant.  It  is  doubtful  if  the  fern, 
as  a  rule,  would  look  as  well  as  it  does  if  it  had  blossoms  like 
other  plants  upon  it.  The  leaf  of  the  "  Three-flowered  Avens  "  is 
elegant,  but  it  is  the  elegance  of  the  cultured  gentleman,  and  not 
of  a  "  lady  fair."  To  those  engaged  in  ornamental  designs  the 
leaf  affords  a  good  study.  Where  the  idea  of  combined  strength 
and  delicacy  is  required  it  would  be  very  appropriate.  Neatly 
pressed,  dried,  and  arranged  in  a  rosette,  the  leaves  make  a 
pretty  ornament  in  leaf  albums. 

The  "  Three-flowered  Avens "  seems  to  grow  very  well  in 
gardens,  where  it  forms  a  neat  little  s'talky  bunch  of  about  six 
inches  high.  The  flower  stems  do  not  extend  much  beyond  the 
leaves,  and  the  blossoms  open  about  the  end  of  May. 

We  are  indebted  to  Professor  Sargent,  of  Harvard,  for  the 
specimen  from  which  our  plate  was  made. 


Explanation  of  the  Tlate.  —  i.    The  whole  plant.  —  2.    Mature  head,  with  awns. 


Plate 


kJ 


GeLSEMIUM    SEMPERVIRENS, 

L.  Prang  &  Company,  Boston. 


GELSEMIUM  SEMPERVIRENS. 

CAROLINA    JASMINE,   OR    YELLOW   JESSAMINE. 

NATURAL    ORDER,    RUBIACE/E    (according  to  Chapman,  in  Flora  of  Southern  States, 
LOGANIACErE,  according  to  Lindley,  De  Candolle,  Asa  Gray,  and  other  authors). 

Gelsemium  SEMPERVIRENS,  Aiton. —  Flowcrs  dimorphous;  calyx  five-parted,  persistent; 
corolla  funnel-shaped,  five-lobed,  the  lobes  rounded,  emarginate,  spreading,  quincuncial  in 
the  bud,  the  sinuses  impressed;  stamens  five,  inserted  near  the  base  of  the  corolla;  anthers 
oblong -sagittate,  extrorse;  styles  united,  filiform,  partly  persistent;  stigmas  four,  linear, 
spreading ;  capsule  oblong,  two-celled,  compressed,  opening  septicidally  to  the  middle, 
and  loculicidally  at  the  apex,  each  valve  tipped  with  the  persistent  base  of  the  styles; 
seeds  several,  oval,  flat,  winged,  obliquely  imbricated  in  two  rows;  stem  twining,  woody; 
leaves  opposite,  lanceolate  or  ovate,  short  petioled,  with  minute  stipules,  evergreen. 
(Partly  froni  Chapman's  Flora  of  the  Southern  United  States.  See  also  Gray's  Manual  of 
the  Botany  of  the  Northern  United  States.) 

HIS  is  a  distinctively  American  plant.  The  genus  con- 
sists of  only  this  single  species,  and  it  has  no  very  close 
relations  outside  of  the  American  continent.  Willdenow  re- 
garded it  as  a  species  of  Big7ionia,  or  Trumpet-flower.  With- 
out going  into  details,  however,  the  student  would  at  once  see  it 
did  not  belong  to  the  Bignoniaceous  order  by  the  four  stigmas, 
as  all  Bignoniaceous  plants  have  the  single  style,  terminated  by 
two  thin  stigmatic  plates,  which  are  sensitive,  closing  slowly 
when  touched.  The  nearest  allies  to  the  Gelsemium  are  the 
Spigelia,  a  very  pretty,  hardy,  herbaceous  plant,  but  of  poisonous 
qualities ;  and  two  less  known  genera,  Polypremttm  and  Mltre- 
ola.  These  form  a  little  tribe  of  exclusives,  all  of  this  continent. 
Our  plant  is  known  in  the  Southern  States  as  "  Yellow  Jessa- 
mine," according  to  Gray  and  Chapman,  but  all  those  whom  we 
have  heard  speak  of  it  call  it  "  Carolina  Jasmine."  It  is  a  woody 
twiner,  with  evergreen,  willow-like  leaves,  rambling  over  bushes 
and  low  shrubs,  and  often  ascending  trees  of  considerable  size, 

9 


lO  GELSEMIUM    SEMPERVIRENS. CAROLINA    JASMINE. 

It  Is  one  of  the  earliest  of  spring  flowers.     The  specimen  from 
which  our  drawing  was   made  was  gathered   in   Florida,  in  Jan- 
uary, and  we  have  seen  the  plant  in  flower  everywhere  in  Mis- 
sissippi in  March.     The  flowers  are  deliciously  scented,  and  fill 
the  atmosphere  with  fragrance  for  long  distances  around.     It  is 
singular   that   Catesby,  who   wrote   a  history  of    the    Carollnas, 
should  say  that  the  plant  was  not  an  evergreen.     Owing  to  this 
error  the  name  of  Michaux,  Gclsemium  nitidum,  was  adopted  by 
De  Candolle,  but  this  name  is  now  generally  dropped  for  the  one 
we  have  chosen,  and  we  refer  to  it  here  only  that  readers  may 
not  suppose  there  are  two  species  under  these  names.     It  may 
be  that  sometimes  the  plant  drops  its  leaves.     It  is  subject  to 
♦'  notions,"  for  Nuttall  says  he  found  near  Savannah  a  kind  which 
was  utterly  scentless,  a  rare  peculiarity  in  a  flower  that  is  usually 
so  sweet.     This  peculiarity  may,  however,  have  some  relation  to 
its  dimorphic  condition,  a  character  first  pointed  out  by  Professor 
Asa  Gray,  in  Sllllman's  Journal,  in  1873.     By  this  is  meant  that 
some   flowers  have  the  pistils  longer  than  the  stamens,  while 
others  have  them  shorter.     In  such  cases  It  often  happens  that 
the  short-plstilled  flowers  do  not  seed,  their  only  use  seeming  to 
be  to  furnish  pollen  for  the  more  perfectly  pistillate  individuals, 
and  varying  odor  may  go  wath  these  varying  states. 

Notwithstanding  its  beauty  as  a  climber,  and  the  sweetness  of 
its  golden  flowers,  the  Carolina  Jasmine  possesses  qualities  dan- 
gerous to  the  ignorant,  though  of  great  value  to  the  intelligent 
medical  practitioner.  Dr.  Peyre  Porcher  tells  us  that  during  the 
war  between  the  North  and  the  South,  when  medicines  in  popu- 
lar use  were  cut  off  by  the  blockade,  this  plant  was  commonly 
employed  as  a  narcotic.  The  expressed  juice  was  found  to  pro- 
duce insensibility  to  pain,  and  yet  without  stupor.  Overdoses, 
however,  produced  unconsciousness  and  death.  Dr.  Porcher 
says  that  the  plant  is  gradually  advancing  northwards,  and  speaks 
of  it  as  having  "  reached  Norfolk,"  as  if  on  a  travelling  excursion. 
Where  its  starting-place  was  does  not  appear.  It  is  very  com- 
mon in  Mississippi,  Louisiana,  and  Florida,  and  thence  up  along 


GELSEMIUM    SEMPERVIRENS. CAROLINA    JASMINE.  'I  I 

all  the  seaboard  States  to  Virginia,  and  De  Candolle  says  it  is 
found  in  Mexico.  If,  however,  Mexico  was  its  original  home,  it 
hardly  reached  us  by  what  is  now  the  "  overland  route,"  for  it 
does  not  appear  to  be  found  in  Texas,  nor  have  we  any  record 
of  it  from  any  place  west  of  the  Mississippi  River. 

Though  called  "  Jasmine "  in  the  South,  it  has  no  botanical 
relationship  to  the  genus  yasmimim,  or  true  Jasmines.  The 
fragrance  simulates  the  real  Jasmine,  and  naturally  suggested  the 
name  to  the  Spanish  settlers.  Several  writers  tell  us  that  the 
Italians  call  the  Jasmine  "  Gelsomino,"  and  that  neighboring 
nations  corrupted  this  to  "  Gelsemine."  This  gives  us  the  origin 
of  the  botanical  name  Gelsemhini,  and  even  this  is  occasionally 
written  Gclseminum.  Jasminum  is  said  to  have  been  derived 
from  the  Arabic  name  of  the  plant,  "  Jasmin,"  which  is  applied  to 
it  with  slight  variations  of  form  in  all  European  countries.  It  is 
possible  that  it  may  have  a  relation  to  a  Greek  word  of  similar 
character  meaning  "  healthfulness,"  of  which  the  grateful  per- 
fume is  eminently  suggestive. 

The  true  Jasmine  —  we  write  Jasmine  in  preference  to  Jessa- 
mine, so  common  with  American  authors  —  has  long  had  a  place 
in  poetry.  It  is  generally  regarded  as  suggestive  of  amiability. 
This  refers,  no  doubt,  to  the  white  and  not  to  the  yellow  kinds, 
for  the  latter  are  of  a  rather  obtrusive  color,  and  have  not  the 
fragrance  which  true  amiability  throws  around  freely  wherever 
it  breathes.  But  in  the  white  kinds  this  sentiment  finds  a  fair 
expression,  for  while  the  rather  small  flowers  are  not  obtrusive, 
yet  no  one  can  fail  to  notice  them,  and  recognize  their  modest 
worth.  It  is  this  particular  expression  of  the  European  Sweet 
Jasmine,  no  doubt,  that  inspired  the  lines  of  Fanny  Osgood:  — 

"Thy  heart  is  like  a  Jasmine  bell, 
It  yields  its  wealth  of  feeling." 

Our  Carolina  Jasmine,  however,  speaks  not  to  us  in  this 
language.     There  is 

"  the  perfume  from  the  blossom's  cell 
On  every  zephyr  stealing  "  ; 


12  GELSEMIUM    SEMPERVIRENS. CAROLINA    JASMINE. 

but  the  deep,  grassy  green  leaves  and  rich  golden  flowers  speak 
rather  of  a  rollicking  joyousness  that  spring  has  come, —  a  joyous- 
ness  that  finds  no  bashfulness  in  its  expression,  but  is  rather 
anxious  that  all  the  world  should  know  the  good  floral  season  is 
close  at  hand.  Mrs.  Sara  J.  Hale  is  the  only  one  of  our  Ameri- 
can poets,  that  we  know  of,  who  refers  especially  to  our  native 
Jasmine,  —  if  Jasmine  it  is  to  be.  She  seems  to  have  it  in 
view  speaking  of  a  character  drawn  by  N.  P.  Willis,  w^iose  native 
grace  and  elegance,  qualities  which  are  certainly  peculiar  to 
the  Gclscmmm  sejnpervirciis  in  its  growth  and  manner  of  flower- 
ing, she  describes  as  follows:  — 

"The  fashion  of  her  gracefuhiess  was  not  a  followed  rule, 
And  her  effervescent  sprightliness  was  never  learnt  at  school." 

This  plant  is  a  remarkably  easy  one  to  cultivate,  even  in  those 
parts  of  the  world  where  the  thermometer  falls  below  zero,  if  it 
can  only  have  the  protection  of  a  cool  green-house  in  winter.  It 
looks  best  trained  over  flat  trehises  of  wire  or  wood,  though  it  is 
often  grown  as  a  cylinder,  or  on  balloons.  For  a  basket-plant  it 
is  admirable,  as  it  blooms  in  the  winter  season  when  room  flow- 
ers are  most  highly  appreciated,  and  a  single  flower  is  sufficient 
to  scent  a  whole  room.  It  will  hardly  do  well  in  the  open  air 
farther  north  than  its  natural  territory,  unless  with  some  protec, 
tion.  At  the  Laurel  Hill  Cemetery,  near  Philadelphia,  there  is 
a  plant  growing  on  a  wall  among  some  evergreen  ivy,  the  leaves 
of  which  afford  it  sufficient  protection,  and  through  which  it 
pushes  its  branchlets,  with  the  sweet  flowers,  in  early  spring. 
The  cuttings  grow  very  easily,  if  taken  off  in  early  summer  while 
the  wood  is  half  ripe,  put  in  boxes  of  sandy  soil,  and  kept  in  a 
partially  shaded  place. 


< 


.  ■  ^/\  1  L,   4- 


POLYPODIUM    INCANUM 


1.  Praiho*.;  Company, 


POLYPODIUM    INCANUM. 

HOARY    POLYPODY. 

NATURAL   ORDER,  FILICES  {Polypodiacca). 

PoLYPODiuM  INCANUM,  Swartz.  —  Froncls  leathery,  evergreen,  veins  obscure,  sometimes 
reticulating  near  the  margin,  smooth  and  green  above,  pinnately  parted ;  the  divisions 
oblong,  obtuse,  entire.  The  frond  beneath,  as  well  as  the  stipe,  thickly  beset  with 
peltate,  chaffy  scales ;  fruit  dots  near  the  margin.  (See  Chapman's  Flora  of  the  Southern 
United  States.) 

ERNS  which  grow  on  trees  are  confined  to  a  very  few 
species   in   the    United   States,  and  of   all  of    them    the 
pretty  little  species,  called  Polypodiutn  incamini,  is  perhaps  the  ^ 

most  frequently  found  here.  In  Europe,  at  least  in  England, 
the  most  common  fern  found  cfrowinof  on  trees  is  an  allied 
species,  P.  vulgarc,  a  native  also  of  the  United  States,  where, 
however,  it  is  more  often  found  in  the  clefts  and  on  the 
ledges  of  shaded  rocks  than  on  trees.  It  is  interesting  to  note 
that  the  species  now  illustrated,  which,  as  we  have  just  remarked, 
is  allied  to  P.  vitlgarc,  seems  to  have  advanced  from  the  south 
towards  the  north,  while  P.  vulgare  has  travelled  towards  the 
south,  so  that  the  advancing  colonies  have  met  and  intermingled 
in  the  northern  parts  of  the  Southern  States.  And  here  we  find 
that,  while  in  the  centre  of  its  range,  and  where  we  may  suppose  - 
was  its  original  home,  the  Polypodium  incanum  is  mostly  found 
on  trees,  when  it  meets  its  northern  friend  it  takes  to  the  same 
habit  of  often  growing  on  rocks.  As  so  few  ferns  in  our  district 
grow  on  trees,  as  compared  with  those  which  we  might  suppose 
to  be  able  to  adapt  themselves  to  such  situations,  it  is  more  than 
probable  that,  in  the  order  of  evolution,  ferns  growing  on  trees  — 
epiphytal  ferns — are  a  comparatively  late  class  in  the  sequence 


14  POLYPODIUM    INCANUM. HOARY    POLYPODY. 

of  creative  time.  Some  of  the  earlier  botanists  regarded  this 
species  as  a  "  parasite,"  but  many  modern  ones  do  not  regard  it 
as  even  an  epiphyte,  in  the  sense  of  attaching  itself  to  trees, 
believing  that  it  grows  only  among  moss  or  other  decaying 
material  which  is  collected  on  the  trunks  and  branches.  In 
Mississippi,  where  I  have  seen  it  abundantly  on  oaks,  it  was 
always  associated  with  moss,  as  is  the  specimen  here  illustrated, 
which  was  kindly  cut  for  us  from  the  roof  of  a  house  in  South 
Carolina,  by  Dr.  Mellichamp.  But  in  Louisiana  I  have  seen  it 
running  up  the  straight  trunks  of  trees,  firmly  attached  to  the 
bark,  without  a  trace  of  moss.  In  this  situation,  the  fronds  dry 
and  curl  up  during  the  hot  weather,  the  whole  plant  looking 
brown  and  dead;  but  when  the  spring  rains  come  in  April,  the 
curled  leaves  unfold,  and  the  plant  resumes  growth  where  it 
stopped  the  preceding  year. 

In  regard  to  its  geographical  range,  I  have  been  furnished 
with  some  very  interesting  facts  by  Mr.  J.  H.  Redfield,  who  has 
followed  its  history  closely.  Inhabiting  all  parts  of  tropical 
America  and  the  islands  of  the  Carribean  Sea,  the  Polypodium 
incanum  enters  the  United  States  by  the  way  of  Mexico,  through 
Texas.  The  Cumberland  Mountains  appear  to  have  checked  its 
direct  progress,  for  it  seems  to  have  no  desire  to  get  up  in  the 
cold;  it  therefore  branched  off,  part  of  the  little  army  marching 
round  to  the  west  and  north,  going  up  the  line  of  the  Mississippi, 
and  then  taking  the  course  of  the  Ohio,  so  as  to  just  reach  that 
state;  the  other  winding  round  to  the  east,  and  then  going 
north  along  the  Seaboard  States,  reaching  as  far  as  the  Dismal 
Swamp  and  the  Natural  Bridge  in  its  northern  march.  In  this 
way  the  great  ridges  of  mountains  form  an  immense  barrier 
between  the  eastern  and  western  colonies. 

No  attempts  that  we  know  of  have  been  made  to  cultivate 
it  in  the  open  air  further  north,  and  in  view  of  tlie  great 
distance  from  its  original  home,  it  would  not  probably  succeed ; 
but,  fastened  to  blocks  of  wood  and  moss,  so  that  it  could  be 
moved  to  rooms,  cellars,  or  green-houses  in  winter,  after  hanging 


POLYrODIUM    INCANUM. HOARY    POLYPODY.  I  5 

out  under  trees  in  the  summer,  it  would  make  a  very  interesting 
object  to  grow. 

The  common  name  of  this  family  of  ferns  is  "  Polypody," 
from  its  botanical  name  as  given  by  Linnaeus,  Polypodhiin^  — 
Greek  words  signifying  "many  feet."  This  is  the  ancient  name 
of  some  fern,  and  was  adopted  by  the  earlier  botanists  as  probably 
belonsino:  to  the  crenus  under  consideration,  to  which  the  name 
seemed  applicable  on  account  of  the  many  "little  feet"  which  the 
numerous  creeping  root-stocks  of  the  original  species  possessed. 
''Incanuin'  is  Latin  for  hoary,  the  leaves  when  dry  exhibiting 
the  scaly  under-surfaces,  of  a  dull,  silvery  color.  The  "  Hoary 
Polypody"  w^ould  be  a  good  popular  name  for  this  fern. 

Our  plate  shows  the  plant  as  usually  seen,  though  the  fronds 
are  described  by  Chapman  as  being  sometimes  six  inches  long. 
We  give  an  enlarged  portion  of  a  pinnule,  so  that  the  great 
beauty  of  the  peltate  scales  may  be  readily  seen.  These  little 
scales  give  a  peculiar  interest  to  this  species.  The  fronds  them- 
selves are  not,  to  our  taste,  as  pretty  as  those  of  its  northern 
sister,  Polypodium  vidgare,  which,  with  its  abundant  masses  of 
yellow  sporangia,  all  in  very  regular  order,  seems  to  require  no 
further  ornamentation.  This  species  does  not  appear  to  have  the 
power  of  producing  spores  as  freely;  and,  if  we  may  speak  of 
plants  as  the  poets  speak,  suppose  it  was  annoyed  at  the 
superior  beauty  of  the  other,  and  the  effort  to  rival  it  resulted 
in  these  pretty  scales  !  Darwin,  in  a  like  fanciful  vein,  pictures 
the  ice-plant,  — 

"  With  pellucid  studs  the  ice  flower  gems 
His  rimy  foliage  and  his  candied  stems," — ■ 

speaking  as  if  he  were  describing  a  not  very  young  gentleman 
who  depended  somewhat  on  jewelry  to  atone  for  departed 
charms.  He  would,  doubtless,  regard  this  effort  by  our  little 
fern  as  a  similar  attempt  by  one  of  the  other  sex  !  In  ferns 
there  are  two  distinct  modes  of  growth.  In  the  one,  the  fronds 
push   up   in   a  direct  way ;  in   the   other,  they  are  circinate,  or 


1 6  POLYPODIUM    INCANUM. IIOARY    TOLYrODY. 

unfold  as  in  the  unrolling  of  a  coil.  This  latter  mode  is  a  very 
beautiful  form  of  growth,  and  the  artist  has  happily  caught  our 
specimen  in  the  unfolding  act. 


Explanation  of  the  Pt-ATE.  —  i.  A  section  of  the  scaly  rhizome,  with  fronds  showing  the 
upper  and  lower  surfaces.  —  2.  Section  of  pinnule,  enlarged  three  times,  and  showing  the 
sori  and  scales. 


Vol 


Plate  5. 


^'^TIT,T,ATA 


Lj  Ph/IWO  &  COMPATJ  i',  bOoTOn 


VIOLA    CUCULLATA. 

COMMON    BLUE    VIOLET. 

NATURAL   ORDER,   VIOLACE^. 

Viola  cucullata,  Aiton.  —  Rootstocks  thickly  dentate  with  fleshy  teeth,  branching,  and 
forming  compact  masses;  leaves  all  long-petiolcd  and  upright,  heart-shaped,  with  a  broad 
sinus,  varying  to  kidney-shaped  and  dilated-triangular,  smooth,  or  more  or  less  pubescent, 
the  sides  at  the  base  rolled  inward  when  young,  obtusely  serrate,  lateral,  and  often  the 
lower  petals  bearded ;  spur  short  and  thick ;  stigma  slightly  beaked  or  beakless. 
(Gray's  Manual  of  Botany  of  the  Northern  States.  See  also  Wood's  Class-Book  and 
Chapman's  Flora  of  the  Southern  Slates.) 

EW  flowers  are  better  known  than  the  Violet.  Our  atten- 
tion is  attracted  by  it  from  infancy  to  old  age.  As  the 
chosen  emblem  of  Napoleonism  it  has  served  many  a  sadly  prac- 
tical purpose,  and  it  has  been  the  theme  of  the  poet  from  the 
earliest  times.  As  Vioia  it  was  known  to  the  ancient  Romans, 
and  the  great  Linnaeus  adopted  the  name  as  the  language  of 
science.  In  those  early  times,  when  poetry  and  nature  were 
blended  so  closely  together,  the  Violet  was  received  as  especially 
the  emblem  of  constancy.     The 

"Violet  is  for  faithfulness," 

Shakespeare  tells  us,  and  it  was  no  doubt  the  popular  association 
—  this  particular  "  language  "  of  the  flower  —  that  led  to  its  ap- 
propriation by  the  Buonapartes.  Its  other  chief  associations  have 
been  with  sweet  simplicity  and  modest,  retiring  humility ;  but 
these  characters  dwell  chiefly  in  the  European  species.  When 
Duke  Orsino,  in  "  Twelfth  Night,"  declares  that  the  music  he 

listened  to 

"  Came  o'er  my  ear  like  the  sweet  south, 
That  breathes  upon  a  bank  of  violets, 
Stealing,  and  giving  odor," 

17 


(•' 


l8  VIOLA    CUCULLATA.  —  COMMON    BLUE    VIOLET. 

or  Perdita,  in  "  Winter's  Tale,"  tells    Florizel  that  "  before  the 
swallow  dares  "  come,  there  are 

"  Violets  dim, 
But  sweeter  than  the  Hds  of  Juno's  eyes, 
Or  Cytherea's  breath," 

they  are  referring  to  experiences  which  no  American  species  of 
Violet  will  afford.     Our  Violets  will  ' 

"  take 
The  winds  of  March  with  beauty," 

but   except   to   a    small    degree,   in   some    species,   fragrance   is 
wanting. 

The  species  we  now  illustrate  is  the  commonest  of  those  found 
in  America,  so  frequently  met  with  as  to  bear  the  distinctive 
name  of  "  Common  Blue  Violet."  It  has  been  found  wild  from 
Arctic  America  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  westward  in  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  and  across  the  Sierra  Nevada,  almost  to  the  Pacific 
coast.  It  grows  in  deep,  shady  woods,  as  well  as  in  the  most 
exposed  places,  but  generally  where  the  soil  is  a  little  damp.  It 
varies  very  much,  and  in  consequence  the  older  botanists  made 
many  species,  with  distinctive  names,  out  of  what  are  now 
regarded  as  but  forms  of  one.  As  a  general  rule,  the  flowers 
are  of  a  deeper  blue  in  rich,  cultivated  soil,  or  in  high  places^ 
than  in  low  or  swampy  ground,  in  which  latter  they  are  often  of 
a  lilac  tint,  and  with  the  petals  particularly  thin  and  lank.  Our 
own  Bryant  undoubtedly  alludes  to  this  form  when  he  sings  so 
slightingly  of  "  violets  lean,"  which 

"Nod  o'er  the  ground-bird's  liidden  nest." 

The  general   characteristic   of    our   flower    is   that   of    retiring, 
contented  luxury. 

In  some  specimens  the  leaves  are  lobed,  while  in  others  they 
are  palmately  divided,  but  these  variations  in  leaves  are  now 
known   to   be  so  common    in   vegetation    that   only   secondary 


VIOLA    CUCULLATA. COMMON    BLUE    VIOLET.  1 9 

importance  is  attached  to  them  in  determining  species.  The 
general  appearance  of  a  plant  —  all  the  characters  combined  — 
decides  the  question. 

The  large,  showy,  but  scentless  flowers  of  this  species  appear 
with  the  first  approach  of  spring,  and  often  in  the  fall  if  that 
season  be  mild.  Some  Violets,  and  those  of  this  species  more 
especially,  have  the  power  of  perfecting  seeds  without  making 
flowers,  in  the  popular  sense  of  the  word.  Early  in  the  spring 
we  have  the  complete  flower,  formed  of  calyx,  corolla,  stamens, 
and  pistil;  but  as  the  season  advances  the  petals  are  not  pro- 
duced and  the  calyx  remains  closed.  The  anthers,  however, 
perfect  a  small  quantity  of  pollen,  sufflcient  to  fertilize  the 
ovaries,  and  seed  is  produced  in  this  way  in  abundance.  This 
process,  in  the  Violet  under  consideration,  often  goes  on  when  the 
flower-bud  is  completely  under  ground.  Many  plants  are  now 
known  to  have  flowers  of  this  character,  and  on  account  of  these 
"  secret  marriages,"  as  the  poets  say,  are  called  clcistogamous 
plants.  It  is  interesting  to  note  the  transition  from  one  of  these 
conditions  to  the  other  in  the  fall  of  the  year.  The  cleistogene 
flowers  are  most  abundant  in  summer,  and  are  often  all  that  are 
produced  at  that  season ;  but  towards  the  autumn,  a  flower  will 
be  found  with  but  one  petal,  another  with  two  or  more,  till  late 
in  winter,  or  towards  spring,  the  complete  flowers  appear.  It  has 
already  been  noted  that  the  pollen  in  the  cleistogene  flowers  is 
very  small  in  quantity.  A  very  interesting  physiological  fact  has 
recently  been  made  public  by  Dr.  Kunze,  of  New  York.  The 
seeds  from  these  flowers  are  borne  in  great  abundance,  while 
there  are  only  about  twelve  pollen-grains  in  each  anther.  From 
this  it  would  seem  that  a  single  pollen-grain  is  capable  of  fertil- 
izing more  than  one  ovule,  —  certainly  a  very  remarkable  fact,  if 
it  should  be  proved  beyond  doubt. 

Thoush  the  Common  Blue  Violet  is  so  well  known,  and  is  natu- 
rally  so  variable,  it  has  not  given  much  to  the  florist  so  far;  some 
white  and  violet-striped  ones  are  under  cultivation,  but  this  is  all. 

There  are,  however,  many  marked  varieties  wild,  of  which  we 
give  a  few  specimens  in  our  plate,  and  there  is  no  doubt  but  that, 


20  VIOLA    CUCULLATA. COMMON    BLUE    VIOLET. 

if  attention  were  turned  to  watching  for  variations,  and  then 
sowing  from  those  selected,  some  interesting  forms  might  be 
obtained. 

The  spur  of  the  Violet  is  worth  special  investigation  by  the 
student.  Inside  the  spur  (see  illustration  on  the  plate)  there  is  a 
fleshy,  lever-like  projection,  and  it  would  be  a  matter  of  interest 
to  know  not  only  the  uses  of  this  projection,  but  also  whether 
the  spur  is  formed  to  accommodate  it.  In  this  case  the  spur  and 
staminate  projection  are  proportionate;  but  some  Violets  have 
long  spurs  and  short  projections.  On  the  other  hand,  there  are 
Violets  without  these  projections  from  the  stamens,  and  then 
there  is  no  petaloid  spur.  Some  have  contended  that  the  pro- 
jection is  used  as  a  lever,  which,  on  being  raised  by  an  insect  in 
search  of  nectar,  causes  pollen  to  be  thrown  on  the  insect's  back, 
and  the  pollen  is  then  taken  to  another  flower,  thus  "  cross-fertil- 
izing" it;  but  as  in  this  Violet  the  spur  membrane  is  so  closely 
fitted  to  the  "  lever  "  that  it  cannot  work,  it  shows  how  wholly 
imaginary  these  speculations  are. 

Color  is  supposed  to  be  a  provision  of  nature  to  attract  insects 

to   flowers  for  this   very  purpose   of  "  cross-fertilization,"     But 

the  student  will  not  fail  to  notice  that  bees  at  least  very  rarely 

visit  this  Violet,  though  in  color  it  is  perhajDS  one  of  the  showiest 

of  all  the  subjects  of  the  floral  kingdom.     Rich  ground,  if  par. 

tially  shaded,  grows  the  plant  to  great  j^erfection,  and  we  may 

often  see  large  tracts  of  such  land,  in  old,  abandoned  gardens,  as 

near  a  perfect 

"  Sea  of  blue  " 

as  it  is  possible  to  cxjoect  from  any  flower. 


Explanation  of  the  Plate.  —  i.  The  plant,  sh(3wing  its  short,  thick,  and  somewhat  fleshy 
rootstock.  —  2.  A  flower  divested  of  petals,  showing  the  heel-like  projection  which  pro- 
ceeds from  two  of  the  stamens  and  fills  the  spur  of  the  corolla.  —  3.  Varieties  of  color 
occasionally  found. 


Plate  6. 


EMONP]    NEMORCSA. 


ANEMONE    NEMOROSA. 

WIND-FLOWER,  OR    WOOD-ANEMONE. 

NATURAL  ORDER,  RANUNCULACE^. 

Anemone  nemorosa,  Linnaeus. — Low,  smoothish ;  stem  perfectly  simple,  from  a  filiform 
root-stock,  slender,  leafless,  except  the  involucre  of  three  long-petioled,  trifoliolate 
leaves,  their  leaflets  wedge-shaped  or  oblong,  and  toothed  or  cut,  or  the  lateral  ones  two- 
parted  ;  a  similar  radical  leaf  in  sterile  plants  solitary  from  the  root-stock ;  peduncle 
not  longer  than  the  involucre;  sepals  4  to  7,  oval,  white,  sometimes  tinged  with  purple 
outside;  carpels  only  15  to  20,  oblong,  with  a  hooked  beak.  (Gray's  Jlfanuai  0/  the 
Botany  of  the  Northern  United  States.  See  also  Chapman's  Flora  of  the  Southern  United 
States  ;  Wood's  Class-Booh  ;  Botany  of  the  Geological  Survey  of  California  ;  etc.) 

HE  classical  pronunciation  of  the  generic  name  of  this 
I  plant  is  An-e-mo^-ne,  but  the  accepted  pronunciation  is 
An-cni'-on-e.  The  Latins  tell  us  that  Adonis,  the  beautiful  son 
of  the  King  of  Cyprus,  and  the  "minion  of  Venus,"  was  turned 
into  a  sort  of  poppy  called  Anemone.  Others  tell  us  that 
Anemone  was  a  nymph  beloved  by  Zephyr,  and  was  therefore 
banished  by  the  jealous  Flora  from  her  court,  and  changed  into 
a  cold  spring  flower.  Boreas,  however,  wooed  her,  but,  still  true 
to  Zephyr,  who  in  this  strait  abandoned  her,  she  would  listen  to 
nothing  he  had  to  say.  Finding  that  she  slighted  his  attentions, 
he  maliciously  continued  them  until  she  was  half  inclined  to  listen, 
when,  after  she  had  slightly  opened  her  petals,  he  blew  a  cold  blast 
and  caused  the  tender  flower  to  fade  away.  There  is  a  popular 
impression  in  Europe  that  the  species  we  now  introduce  opens 
only  when  the  wind  blows,  and  it  therefore  bears  the  popular 
name  of  "  Wind-Flower,"  and  this  associates  the  flower  very  well 
with  the  ancient  story.  The  name  Anemone,  as  applied  to  the 
whole  genus,  was  given  to  it,  as  we  are  told  by  Sir  William 
Hooker,   from    the   Greek    name    for  wind,   and  because  many 

21 


2  2      ANEMONE  NEMOROSA„ WIND-FLOWER,  OR  WOOD-ANEMONE. 

species  seem  to  delight  to  grow  in  places  exposed  to  wind.  The 
present  species,  however,  grows  in  rather  sheltered  places,  and 
has  thus  obtained  the  name  of  "Wood-Anemone,"  as  well  as 
"  Wind-Flower." 

The  classical  allusions  we  have  referred  to  have  been  used 
to  advantage  by  poets,  who  take  our  flower  as  the  represent- 
ative of  one  forlorn  and  forsaken,  and  occasionally  introduce 
it  in  connection  with  the  rugged  banks  which  now  and  then 
line  the  "course  of  true  love."     Herbert  Smith  refers  to 

"The  coy  Anemone,  that  ne'er  uncloses 
Her  lips  until  they  're  blown  on  by  the  wind  "  j 

and  Dr.  Darwin,  in  the  fanciful  "  Botanic  Garden,"  has  the  same 
story  in  mind  when  he  says,  — 

"  All  wan  and  shivering  in  the  leafless  glade, 
The  sad  Anemone  reclined  her  head ; 
Grief  on  her  cheek  had  paled  the  roseate  hue. 
And  her  sweet  eyelids  dropped  with  pearly  dew." 

The  fancy  that  the  flowers  of  the  Anemone  have  turned  pale 
from  a  happy  pink  is  well  based  on  the  varying  tints  of  the 
flowers.  They  are  sometimes  found  of  a  deep  rosy  hue.  The 
tendency  to  vary  is  very  marked.  Some  of  the  European 
species  furnish  the  beautiful  garden  Anemones,  and  there  is  little 
doubt  that  care  in  selection  and  seed-sowing  might  result  in 
producing  as  varied  colors  in  the  American  as  in  the  European 
flowers.  The  American  flowers  would  have  the  additional 
charm  of  fragrance,  as  a  bunch  of  our  species  has  a  delicate,  but 
delicious  perfume. 

If  the  ancients  had  known  a  little  more  than  they  did,  they 
might  have  done  poetic  justice  to  the  wrongs  of  sweet  Miss 
Anemone  by  making  her  cold  remains,  after  her  death  by 
Boreas,  work  to  the  injury  of  the  whole  race  of  gods  and  god- 
desses, for  the  juices  of  the  plant  are  very  dangerous  when 
taken  internally;  they  are  said  to  be  useful  in  a  certain  class  of 
immoderate   hemorrhages,  but  are  too  dangerous   in  overdoses 


ANEMONE  NEMOROSA. WIND-FLOWER,  OR  WOOD-ANEMONE.       23 

to  be  often  employed.  Even  the  root,  held  awhile  in  the 
mouth,  is  said  to  induce  a  flow  of  cold,  watery  matter  from 
the  nose.  Linnaeus  reports  that  cattle  feeding  on  it,  in  the 
North  of  Europe,  get  the  dysentery.  Chiropodists  sometimes 
use  the  juice  to  burn  out  corns,  and  it  is  said  to  enter  into 
some  preparations  for  curing  gout  and  rheumatism. 

The  Ajiemone  nemorosa  grows  abundantly  wherever  it  is 
found  at  all,  and  has  a  very  wide  range.  It  extends  down  into 
the  mountains  of  North  and  South  Carolina,  and  is  also  found 
alongr  the  coast  of  California.  On  both  sides  of  the  continent 
it  proceeds  far  towards  the  Arctics,  and  is  equally  at  home  in 
Europe  and  Siberia. 

It  is  one  of  the  earliest  flowers  to  put  in  a  spring  appearance, 
and  is  always  welcomed  by  the  most  practical  as  well  as  by 
those  who  read  "  sermons  in  stones,  and  God  in  everything." 
Among  these  last,  the  eloquent  poet,  Percival,  says,  — 

"  Beside  a  fading  bank  of  snow 

A  lovely  Anemone  blew, 
Unfolding  to  the  sun's  bright  glow 

Its  leaves  of  heaven's  serenest  hue. 
"Tis  spring,'  I  cried;  'pale  winter's  fled, 

The  earliest  wreath  of  flowers  is  blown ; 
The  blossoms,  withered  long  and  dead, 

Will  soon  proclaim  their  tyrant  flown  ! '  " 

* 

Yes,  the  winter  is  a  tyrant  to  the  flowers  !  but  to  the  plant 
which  bears  it,  a  true  friend.  It  gives  it  rest,  and  the  "  snowy 
bank,"  which  the  poet  loves  to  see  fade  from  over  it,  furnished 
protection  and  warmth  to  the  little  roots  as  they  slept;  but  with 
our  plate  before  us,  we  should  not  call  what  appear  to  be 
roots  by  that  name.  There  are  few  "roots"  to  the  Anemone 
in  the  winter  season.  What  we  find  then  are  underground 
stems,  from  which  the  little  root-fibres  push  forth  in  early 
spring.  From  the  end  of  these  stems  a  leaf  starts  from  the 
apex  after  a  few  warm  days,  and  the  plant  prepares  to  run 
On  and  make  a  few  inches  of  underground  growth  for  next  year. 


24       ANEMONE  NEMOROSA. WIND-FLOWER  OR  WOOD-ANEMONE. 

If  it  has  not  very  well  prepared  itself,  it  may  not  flower,  and 
then  it  appears  as  in  our  Fig.  3,  —  a  long,  petioled  leaf  only, 
with  a  five-parted  blade,  when,  like  similar  failures  in  human 
life,  it  may  be  thankful  for  the  chance  to  try  again  another  time ; 
and,  though  a  season  has  been  thrown  aw^ay,  it  generally  manages 
to  make  a  good  flowering  specimen  the  next  year.  In  this  case  we 
have  a  pair  of  leaves  from  between  which  the  flov/er  is  produced. 
The  little  difference  between  the  form  of  the  growth  when  it  is 
barren  and  when  it  succeeds  in  producing  a  fl-ower  is  not  of 
much  importance  here,  but  it  will  help  us  to  understand  appear- 
ances in  other  Anemones  that  have  distinct  root  leaves,  inde- 
pendent of  the  flower  stalks. 


Explanation   of  the   Plate.  —  i.    The  usual  white-flowered  form.  —  2.    A   rose-flowered 
variety. — 3.    An  abortive  flower  stalk.  —  4.    Full-face  view  of  an  expanded  flower. 


i./-.  1  L 


AOUILEGIA    CHKi^AiX 


L.  Prang  &  Company,  Boston 


AQUILEGIA   CHRYSANTHA. 

GOLDEN  COLUMBINE. 

NATURAL  ORDER,  RANUNCULACE^. 

Aquilegia  CHRYSANTHA,  Asa  Gray.  —  Allied  to  A.  cserulea ;  tall,  two  to  four  feet;  flowers 
deep  yellow  ;  sepals  lanceolate  oblong  ;  limb  of  the  petals  a  little  longer  than  broad.  — 
{^Proceedings  of  the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  Vol.  VIII,  p.  621.) 

HE  Columbines  are  celebrated  plants.  This,  the  Golden 
Columbine,  has  been  definitely  known  only  for  a  short 
time.  Nuttall,  Thurber,  Wright,  and  Parry  met  with  it  in  their 
travels  through  the  Southwest ;  but  it  was  thought  to  be  a  variety 
of  another  species,  until  Dr.  Gray  described  it  as  above.  It  is  a 
native  of  New  Mexico,  Arizona,  and  Southern  Utah. 

The  family  of  Columbines  is  represented  in  the  eastern  United 
States  by  a  single  species  only,  while  in  the  Southwest  and  West 
there  are  several.  It  crosses  the  American  continent  to  Siberia, 
and  thence  extends  by  several  species  into  the  northern  and 
mountainous  districts  of  Europe. 

The  name,  Aquilegia,  given  to  this  genus,  has  not  been  satis- 
factorily accounted  for.  Gray,  Darlington,  and  other  botanists 
say  it  is  from  the  Latin  aquila,  an  eagle,  from  a  fancied  resem- 
blance in  the  long  spur-like  nectaries  to  the  talons  of  an  eagle  ; 
but  it  is  quite  as  likely  to  be  from  aqiia,  water,  and  lego,  to  col- 
lect, in  allusion  to  their  pitcher-like  appearance.  These  spurs, 
however,  being  generally  horizontal,  or  even  erect  in  some  cases, 
would  really  be  unable  to  collect  much  rain  ;  but  names  are  often 
given  as  much  from  fancy  as  from  fact.  The  spurs  are  called 
nectaries,  because  they  generally  contain  a  small  quantity  of 
sweet  liquid.  The  common  name,  "  Columbine,"  is  derived  from 
the  Latin,  signifying  a  dove ;  but  it  takes  a  great  deal  of  imagi- 


26  AQUILEGIA    CHRYSANTHA. GOLDEN    COLUMBINE. 

nation  to  see  any  resemblance  to  a  dove  in  our  species,  in  which 
the  horns  turn  outwards.  In  many  of  the  European  and  Asiatic 
forms,  however,  the  horns  are  short  and  bend  inwards,  and  there 
is  a  sudden  thickening  at  the  end  of  the  horn.  The  ancient 
artists,  as  Dr.  Prior  tells  us  in  his  "  Popular  Names  of  British 
Plants,"  loved  to  picture  doves  feeding  together  in  peace  around 
a  dish,  and  if  we  set  one  of  the  dove-colored  Old  World  forms 
on  the  ground,  with  the  horns  uppermost,  it  has  exactly  the 
appearance  of  one  of  these  old-time  dove  dinner-parties.  Dar- 
win, in  his  notes  to  the  "  Botanic  Garden,"  a  fanciful  old  work 
published  seventy  years  ago,  in  which  plants  are  endowed  with 
the  attributes  of  animal  life,  tehs  us  the  resemblance  is  to  a  nest 
of  young  doves,  fluttering  and  elevating  their  necks  as  the  parent 
approaches  with  food  for  them;  but  as  the  dove  has  but  two 
young  at  a  time,  the  nest  full  would  be  rather  slim,  and  Dr. 
Prior's  explanation  is  more  probable. 

Though  there  is  nothing  of  the  dove  in  the  shape  of  our 
species,  those  who  love  to  trace  resemblances  to  animate  nature 
in  these  inanimate  things  will  see  in  it  a  fair  likeness  to  some 
other  bird,  indeed  a  much  closer  resemblance  than  can  be  traced 
in  the  Espirihi  Smito,  the  "  dove  plant  "  of  the  people  of  Panama. 
Take,  for  instance,  the  central  petal  on  the  left-hand  flower  on 
our  plate.  The  anthers  might  represent  a  spreading,  feathery 
tail;  the  petal,  the  back;  the  two  sepals,  a  pair  of  wings;  and 
the  long  nectary,  terminating  in  a  point,  the  neck  and  small 
head. 

Some  of  the  poets  have  dedicated  the  Columbine  to  folly ;  but 
there  is  nothing  known,  either  in  legend  or  in  history,  which 
couples  the  name  with  it,  nor  is  there  anything  suggestive  of 
such  a  sentiment  in  the  plant  itself.  In  some  passages  of  an 
old  play  by  Chapman,  written  about  the  year  1600,  called  "All 
Fools,"  and  referred  to  by  Mr.  EUacombe  in  the  "Garden,"  there 
occurs  this  passage  :  — 

"  What 's  that  —  a  Columbine  ? 
No  !  that  thankless  flower  grows  not  in  my  garden." 


AQUILEGIA    CHRYSANTHA. GOLDEN    COLUMBINE.  2'] 

But  ill  what  particular  respect  it  is  supposed  to  have  committed 
the  folly  of  being  thankless  does  not  appear.  Another  old-time 
poet,  Browne,  tasks  it  with  "desertion":  — 

"  The  Columbine  in  tawny  often  taken, 
Is  then  ascribed  to  such  as  are  forsaken." 

In  this  case  it  is  probable  that  tawny  varieties  were  seldom 
seen ;  and  when  one  did  appear,  it  seemed  all  alone,  deserted, 
as  it  were,  by  its  dove-colored  friends,  and  therefore  those  "  who 
loved  to  talk  in  flowers  "  might  find  in  this  exceptional  color  an 
eloquent  speaker. 

Ophelia  remarks  in  "  Hamlet," 

"There  's  fennel  for  you,  and  Columbines," 

and  in  this  might  have  implied  both  folly  and  desertion.  It  is 
remarkable  that  with  so  extensive  an  association  of  this  pretty 
flower  with  these  unpleasant  ideas,  it  has  been  impossible  so  far 
to  find  any  clew  to  their  origin. 

The  Columbines  afford  a  great  deal  of  interest  to  those  who 
are  fond  of  studying  the  laws  of  plant  life.  There  is  a  wide 
range  of  varying  color  and  form  among  them,  and  yet  they  seem 
so  nearly  related  that  botanists  have  great  difficulty  in  deciding 
on  the  characters  which  are  to  define  the  species.  There  is, 
indeed,  a  suspicion  among  some  of  them  that  they  are  all  merely 
varieties  ;  that  is  to  say,  departures,  at  no  very  distant  date,  from 
one  primordial  form.  In  cultivation  Mr.  Josiah  Hoopes,  of  West 
Chester,  finds  that  the  European  species  and  those  of  America 
readily  intermix  when  growing  near  each  other,  the  pollen  being 
carried  to  and  fro,  either  by  insect  aid  or  by  wind ;  and  some 
botanists  contend  that  the  sweet  liquid  in  the  nectaries  is 
secreted  by  the  plant  for  the  especial  purpose  of  inducing  insect 
agency  in  cross-fertilization.  The  ease  with  which  the  varieties 
or  species  break  up  when  near  each  other  in  this  way  is  the 
more   remarkable  from  the  fact  that   in  their  native  places  of 


28  AQUILEGIA    CHRYSANTHA. GOLDEN    COLUMBINE. 

growth  each  kind  is  particularly  true  to  a  uniform  type,  varia- 
tions being  rarely  met  with. 

Since  the  introduction  of  the  Golden  Columbine  into  Eng- 
land it  has  been  taken  in  hand  by  the  hybridizers,  and  it  is 
reported  that  many  beautiful  varieties  have  been  raised  in  this 
way.  It  Is  not  too  much  to  expect  that  in  time  we  shall  have 
as  many  pretty  garden  varieties  of  Columbines  as  there  are 
varieties  of  Dahlias  or  Chrysanthemums;  for,  besides  the  numer- 
ous shades  of  color  which  will  arise  from  the  mixture  of  yellow 
with  the  various  colors  already  existing  in  English  gardens,  we 
may  also  look  for  flowers  with  an  increase  In  the  number  of 
their  petals,  or,  as  it  is  technically  called,  of  different  degrees  of 
doubleness,  as  the  anthers  very  readily  turn  to  petals  In  our 
flower. 

The  Golden  Columbine  continues  In  flower  longer  than  any 
other  species  we  have  in  cultivation.  It  is  easily  raised  from 
seeds  and  by  dividing  the  roots.  The  seeds  should  be  sown  as 
soon  as  ripe,  when  many  of  the  plants  will  bloom  the  next  year. 
If  the  seeds  are  not  sown  till  spring  the  plants  never  flower  till 
the  year  following. 


Vol 


Plate  6. 


PACHYSANDRi^.  FROCUMBENS 


L.  Prang  .;=  Company,  Boston 


PACHYSANDRA    PROCUMBENS. 

AMERICAN    THICK-STAMEN. 

NATURAL  ORDER,  EUPIIORBIACE^.    {Buxacea:  o£  Muller  in  De  Candolle's  Prodromus.) 

Pachysandra  PROCUMBENS,  Michaux.  —  Flowers  monoecious,  apetalous,  spiked ;  calyx  bract- 
like, four  parted  ;  sterile  flowers  numerous ;  stamens  four,  with  club-shaped  exserted  fila- 
ments ;  fertile  flowers  few,  at  the  base  of  the  sterile  spike  ;  ovary  three-celled,  with  two 
ovules  in  each  cell ;  styles  three,  thick,  recurved  ;  capsule  of  three  one-celled,  two-seeded, 
two-valved  carpels.  Chapman's  Flora  of  the  Southern  States.  See  also  Gray's  Manual 
and  Wood's  Class-Book.) 

HE  character  of  the  genus,  Pachysandra,  only  is  given  in 
the  above  botanical  description,  as  there  is  only  the  one 
species,  P.  procumbcns,  known  in  the  United  States.  Indeed, 
there  is  but  one  other  species  known  anywhere,  and  that  is, 
singularly  enough  to  one  who  has  not  studied  geographical 
botany,  a  native  of  Japan.  It  is,  however,  not  uncommon  to 
find  isolated  species  in  the  Atlantic  States  of  this  continent, 
with  corresponding  aUIes  in  Japan.  These  are  usually  of  genera 
represented  by  a  limited  number  of  species,  and  the  phenomenon 
suggests  that  there  may  have  been  geological  disturbances 
wiping  out  what  probably  were  the  great  centres  of  vegetable 
families,  and  leaving  only  the  few  scattered  outposts  on  the 
boundaries.  The  nearest  link  now  left  in  the  chain  of  relation- 
ship is  the  common  Box  of  our  gardens,  although  the  superficial 
observer  will  fail  to  see  much  in  common  between  the  two. 
Any  one,  however,  who  will  compare  the  flowers  of  the  Box  with 
those  of  P.procumbcns  must  see  how  nearly  the  structures  cor- 
respond. In  the  Box  the  spike  is  very  closely  drawn  together, 
so  as  to  form  a  dense  head.  The  lower  flowers  are  all  male, 
with  four  stamens  in  each  flower,  and  the  female  flower,  with  its 


30        PACHYSANDRA    PROCUMBENS. AMERICAN    THICK-STAMEN. 

three  stigmas,  terminates  the  head-hke  spike.  In  Pachysandra 
the  spike  is  long  drawn  out,  the  male  flowers  occupying  the 
upper  portion,  while  the  female  flowers  (generally  two),  with  their 
three  stigmas,  are  at  the  base.  In  our  plant  the  stamens  have 
remarkably  thick  filaments,  and  this  suggested  its  botanical 
name,  Pacliysa^idra,  which  is  the  Greek  for  "  thick  stamen." 
The  plant  seems  to  have  no  common  name.  It  may,  perhaps, 
be  admissible,  therefore,  to  adopt  the  translation,  and  in  contra- 
distinction to  the  Japan  species,  to  call  this  the  "  American 
Thick-Stamen." 

Our  plant  is  recorded  by  botanical  authorities  as  inhabiting 
woods  in  mountain  districts  from  Virginia  and  Kentucky  south- 
ward to  Western  Florida ;  but  we  seldom  find  it  referred  to  by 
local  authorities,  and  it  is  rarely  met  with  in  collections  of  dried 
plants  made  in  the  South.  It  is,  perhaps,  confined  to  districts 
out  of  the  usual  line  of  travel.  For  a  plant  with  a  chiefly 
southern  range,  it  is  a  very  hardy  one,  for  it  has  been  found  to 
endure  the  winters  unprotected  in  the  gardens  of  most  of  our 
Northeastern  States.  Though,  according  to  the  descriptions  of 
authors,  it  grows  naturally  in  woods,  where  it  may  have  shade  in 
summer  and  the  protection  of  leaves  in  winter,  it  nevertheless 
thrives  very  well  in  open  garden  borders  without  any  covering 
in  the  winter  season.  It  is  very  much  prized  by  the  lover  of 
curious  flowers,  not  only  for  the  peculiarity  of  its  structure  and 
the  earliness  with  which  it  blossoms,  but  for  its  delicate  fra- 
grance. The  frost  is  scarcely  gone  before  it  is  in  blossom,  but 
so  inconspicuous  is  the  whole  plant  that  but  for  the  sweetness 
of  its  flowers,  which  attracts  insects  to  it  in  immense  numbers, 
it  might  easily  be  overlooked.  Bees  from  long  distances  find 
out  the  flowers  and  do  homage  to  their  sweets.  Indeed,  we 
know  of  no  flower  to  which  the  idea  of  modest  worth  is  more 
truly  appropriate.  Many  a  "  wee  little  thing  "  possesses  "  blush- 
ing "  beauty  which  has  to  be  sought  for  among  the  grass.  This 
does  not  blush,  —  it  has  no  color,  —  but  it  is  retiring,  and  yet 
has  intrinsic  worth.     When  American  poetry  shall  have  apjDre- 


PACHYSANDRA    PROCUMBENS. AMERICAN    THICK-STAMEN.       3  I 

ciated  all  the  pretty  expressions  of  American  flowers,  we  shall 
have  as  much  of  interest  associated  with  this  as  with  the  violets 
of  the  Old  World.  In  the  mean  time  we  can  appropriate  for  it 
White's  beautiful  lines  :  — 

"  No  ostentatious  wish  to  seek  for  praise, 
But  still  retiring  from  the  public  gaze. 
It  spreads  its  sweet  beneficence  around, 
And  by  the  fame  it  shuns  can  but  be  found." 

The  flowers  are  arranged  to  insure  self-fertilization,  and  this 
is  aided  by  the  visits  of  insects.  As  shown  in  the  plate,  the 
male  flowers  are  in  the  upper  portion  of  the  spike,  the  two  low- 
est being  the  female  ones.  The  anthers  burst  a  few  days  after 
the  stigmas  are  in  a  receptive  condition  and  the  pollen  can 
easily  fall  on  them.  The  insects  in  their  visits  only  enter  the 
male  flowers,  and  though  they  get  covered  with  pollen,  never 
come  in  contact  with  the  pistils;  but  the  stamens  have  an  articu- 
lation by  which  they  are  readily  detached,  and  after  they  have 
been  visited  by  the  insects,  they  fall  and  carry  the  pollen  to  the 
stigmas  below.  The  blossoming  is  generally  over  by  the  first 
of  May. 

The  way  in  which  the  plant  grows  on  from  year  to  year 
offers  a  very  pleasant  subject  for  study,  and  our  artist  has 
caught  a  pretty  phase  in  the  plant's  life.  It  is,  to  a  certain 
extent,  a  shrub  ;  at  least,  it  makes  a  shoot  one  year  from  which 
the  flower  is  to  come  the  next.  The  leaves  remain  on  the  little 
branch  till  spring,  and  until  after  the  flower  has  matured.  They 
commence  to  turn  color  as  the  young  flowers  form ;  at  the  same 
time,  the  plant  pushes  out  its  new  growth  for  the  next  year's 
work.  Thus  we  have  the  old  leaves  with  their  varied  colors, 
the  maturing  flowers,  and  the  young  growth  in  regular  order. 
The  same  succession  goes  on  from  year  to  year,  all  the  older 
growth  dying,  and  in  this  manner  the  plant  advances,  so  that  in 
the  course  of  many  years  it  travels  a  long  distance  from  the 
original  spot,  although  at  the  rate  of  but  an  inch  or  so  in  a 


32        PACHYSANDRA    PROCUMBENS. AMERICAN    THICK-STAMEN. 

twelvemonth.  It  makes  two  buds  a  year,  however,  and  by  that 
means  an  immense  Increase  occurs  in  the  course  of  time. 

The  scales  on  the  young  stem-growth  make  a  pretty  feature. 
It  is  seldom  that  we  see  so  many  in  so  short  a  space.  The 
student,  of  course,  knows  that  they  are  but  leaves  modified. 
The  plant  needs  no  leaves  underground,  but  Nature,  in  her 
abundant  provision,  prepares  innumerable  elementary  parts  be- 
yond what  ever  come  to  perfection,  so  that  she  is  always  ready 
to  act  when  the  time  comes.  Sometimes  these  unformed 
leaves  perform  the  of^ce  of  bud-scales,  and  may  protect  the 
flower,  but  the  number  is  so  great  that  they  can  never  be  all 
needed.  The  transition  from  the  scale  or  imperfect  condition 
to  the  perfect  leaf,  as  we  see  by  the  plate,  is  not  gradual,  but  by 
one  great  leap,  and  this,  also,  is  very  common  in  morphology. 
The  change  from  one  form  of  structure  to  another,  though  each 
be  composed  of  essentially  the  same  elements,  is  seldom  by 
gradual  approaches. 

The  seeds  of  the  American  Thick -Stamen  do  not  mature 
till  autumn.  The  plant  is,  however,  never  raised  from  seed  in 
gardens,  but  is  propagated  by  dividing  the  root-stocks.  It  is 
not  found  nearly  as  often  in  gardens  as  from  its  many  points  of 
interest  it  deserves  to  be. 


Pla 


:f,f 


HELONIAS    BULLATA. 

STUD-FLOWER. 

NATURAL  ORDER,  MELANTIIACE^. 

Helonias  BULLATA,  Limiasus.  —  Scape  ten  to  eighteen  inches  high,  rather  thick  and  fleshy, 
hollow,  nearly  naked ;  leaves  lance-spatulate,  about  as  long  as  the  scape,  one  to  one  and 
a  half  inches  wide  ;  racemes  short ;  pedicels  as  long  as  the  flowers,  colored ;  flowers 
purple,  segments  obtuse,  with  blue  anthers.  (Wood's  Class-Book  of  Botany.  See  also 
Gray's  Maimal  of  Botany  of  the  Northern  States.) 

T  is  remarkable  that  while  some  plants  seem  to  make 
their  way  easily,  and  are  found  over  thousands  of  square 
miles  of  territory,  others  seem  either  incapable  of  wide  disper- 
sion, or,  if  they  ever  were  capable  of  such  dispersion,  have  lost 
ground,  and  are  at  present  confined  to  very  narrow  limits.  The 
pretty  "  wild  flower  "  to  which  this  chapter  is  devoted  is  a  good 
example  of  the  plants  last  mentioned.  It  is  not  uncommon  in 
some  parts  of  New  Jersey,  but  beyond  these  and  a  few  localities 
in  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia  (according  to  Grays  Maimal)  it  is 
unknown. 

To  the  student  this  plant  is  especially  interesting  as  one 
serving  to  illustrate  a  leading  division  of  the  great  family  of  lilies, 
—  the  MclanthacecB.  The  flowers  belonging  to  the  section  given 
to  lilies  proper  —  Liliacccs — have  but  a  single  consolidated 
pistil,  though  there  is  normally  a  three-celled  ovary,  and  the 
anthers  are  turned  inwards;  but  those  in  this  section  —  Mclan- 
thacccE  —  have  their  styles  distinct,  and  the  anthers  are  turned 
outwards.     There  are,  of  course,  other  distinctions,  but   these 


34  HELONIAS    BULLATA. STUD-FLOWER. 

are  the  leading  ones.  Of  the  genus  Helonias  there  are  few 
species,  and  even  these  have  been  placed  in  other  genera  by 
various  botanists. 

Helonias  bullata  has  a  good  deal  of  interest,  even  to  the  com- 
mon observer.  The  roots  are  said  to  be  "  tuberous "  by  the 
describers,  but  so  far  as  our  experience  goes  there  is  only  a 
simple  fleshy  root  stock,  extending  deep  down  into  the  ground, 
from  which  numerous  fibres  grow.  The  plant  flowers  in  May, 
and  the  leaves  of  the  old  year  sometimes  remain  on  during  the 
winter,  and  then  do  justice  to  the  description,  "  about  as  long  as 
the  scape."  In  our  specimen,  kindly  furnished  by  Mr.  I.  C. 
Martindale  from  a  locality  not  far  from  Camden,  N.  J.,  the  old 
leaves  are  gone,  and  the  new  ones  not  fully  developed.  The 
"  nearly  naked  scape  "  is  seen  to  have  four  or  five  very  small 
scale-like  bracts,  and  a  great  peculiarity  noticeable  is  this,  that 
there  is  neither  any  sign  of  scales  just  under  the  pedicels  (which 
in  fact  is  not  uncommon  in  many  plants),  nor  of  what  we  might 
call  "  decurrence  "  or  running  down  In  the  pedicels.  The  stem,  it 
will  be  seen,  is  entirely  round,  and  the  flowers  come  out  at  right 
angles,  and  seem  as  smooth  at  the  connection  with  the  main 
stem  as  If  they  were  pins  stuck  in.  This  singular  appearance  Is 
heightened  by  the  color.  There  Is  no  shading  off,  as  Is  general 
in  nature.  There  is  an  Immediate  change  from  the  green  main 
stem  to  the  purple  of  the  pedicel.  It  is  an  additional  point  of 
singularity  that  when  the  flower  fades  the  pedicels  become  green. 

The  plant  has  no  common  name  that  we  know  of.  A  quaint 
old  English  writer  says  that  it  "  comes  from  America,  where 
it  grows  only  near  Philadelphia,  and  is  called  '  Star-flower' by 
the  natives."  But  this  Is  no  doubt  a  mistake,  as  the  "  Star-flower" 
of  the  "natives"  there,  as  elsewhere  in  the  United  States,  is  the 
Hypoxis.  The  generic  name  Heloriias  is  said  to  be  derived  from 
the  Greek,  signifying  a  swamp,  and  is  given  from  the  fact  that 
the  plant  grows  In  swampy  places,  though  It  does  not  affect  these 
situations  more  than  many  other  plants ;  and  biillata  is  from  the 
Latin   "  bulla,"   which    is    the    name    of    round  "  nail-heads "  or 


HELONIAS    BULLATA. STUD-FLOWER.  35 

studded  ornaments  on  castle  doors  and  other  objects.  We  do 
not  know  that  this  flower  has  ever  been  taken  as  a  copy  for  a 
"  stud  "  or  similar  ornament,  but  few  could  offer  a  better  model. 
The  mathematical  proportions  of  the  parts  and  the  harmony  of 
each  with  the  other  is  very  pleasing.  The  three-lobed  and  in 
itself  rather  heavy  ovary  is  yet  in  admirable  contrast  with  the 
light-lined  pistils  which  curve  back  on  the  apex  of  each  division 
of  the  three  cells.  The  lightness  of  the  petals  in  comparison 
with  the  heavier  ovarium  is  balanced  by  their  double  size,  and 
their  numerous  repetitions  of  curved  lines  are  relieved  by  the 
straight  lines  of  the  stamens  which  stand  out  above  the  petals. 
Then  again  we  see  that  a  pair  of  petals  will  make  a  perfect  tri- 
angle, either  with  one  whole  cell-division  of  the  triangular  ovary, 
or  equally  as  well  with  the  bay  formed  by  parts  of  two  cells  or 
with  two  whole  cells.  We  have  a  triangular  ovary,  three  pairs 
of  oval  petals  forming  three  more  triangles,  and  the  whole  form- 
ing a  regular  circular  flower.  In  our  drawing  the  anthers  have 
burst,  and  are  discharging  pollen;  but  before  they  reach  this 
condition  they  are  of  a  pale  blue,  and  in  this  state  the  flowers 
would  perhaps  commend  themselves  still  more  in  art  designs. 

In  the  absence  of  any  recognized  popular  name,  it  will  not 
perhaps  be  inappropriate  if  w^e  suggest  Stud-Flower  for  it. 

We  do  not  know  that  the  plant  has  been  of  much  use  to  man- 
kind. Lindley  says  that  a  decoction  is  used  in  obstructions  of 
the  bowels ;  but  it  is  well  to  remember  that  the  whole  tribe  of 
MdaiithacecE  is  a  very  poisonous  one,  and  medical  experiments 
with  them  in  unskilled  hands  will  be  very  dangerous. 

We  know  of  no  successful  attempts  at  cultivating  it.  In  all 
the  Instances  that  have  come  to  our  knowledge  the  plants  dwin- 
dled from  year  to  year,  soon  disappearing  altogether.  It  is 
quite  possible  that  it  is  a  real  swamp-loving  plant,  and  may  not 
find  water  enough  In  ordinary  garden  soil.  Many  plants  have 
seeds  which  only  germinate  where  the  ground  is  wet,  and  they 
must,  of  course,  unless  removed  by  art,  live  and  die  where  the 
seeds  sprout ;    but  such  plants  generally  do  better  when  trans- 


36  HELONIAS    BULLATA. STUD-FLOWER. 

planted  to  drier  ground.  If  this  plant  is  indeed  absolutely 
restricted  to  swampy  ground,  it  is  an  exception  to  rule,  and  this 
fact  would  give  special  appropriateness  to  its  botanical  name  of 
"  swamp-lover." 

Explanation  of  the  Plate. —  i.  Crown  of  the  root  with  growing  spring  leaves.  —  2.  Scape, 
showing  the  hollow  stem. — 3.  Showing  the  peculiar  insertion  of  the  flower. — 4.  P'ull 
face  view,  showing  the  harmonious  proportion  of  lines. 


Vr, 


FOLATE     10 


Carex 


o  m  T"-)  r  ''•■, 


TA 


L  Pran*^ 


CAREX    STRICTA. 

TUSSOCK-SEDGE. 

NATURAL  ORDER,  CYPERACE^. 

Carex  STraCTA,  Lamarck.— Pistillate  spikelets  2  to  4,  cylindric,  slender,  the  upper  ones 
sessile,  often  staminate  at  the  summit;  perigynia  ovate,  acute,  about  as  long  as  the  lance- 
olate scale ;  culms,  one  to  two  feet  high,  rather  slender,  deeply  striate,  very  acute  and 
scabrous  on  the  angles,  leafy  at  the  base,  remarkably  caespitose ;  leaves  linear,  keeled, 
often  longer  than  the  culm,  radical  ones  very  numerous;  sheaths  striate,  sometimes 
filamentous ;  staminate  spikelets,  two  or  three,  often  solitary,  half  an  inch  to  near  two 
inches  in  length;  pistillate  spikelets  three  quarters  to  one  and  a  half  inches  long,  the 
lowest  on  a  very  short  pedicel ;  scales  reddish  brown,  with  a  green  keel,  variable  in  length 
and  acuteness.  (Darlington's  Flora  Cestrica.  See  also  Gray's  Manual,  Wood's  Class 
Book,  and  Chapman's  Flo>-a  of  the  Southern  States.) 

RASSES    have    mostly   hollow   and    round    stems;    the 

^^ Sedges,  which  resemble  grasses,  have  usually  triangular 

solid  ones,  and  while  the  former  have  generally  hermaphrodite 
flowers  (flowers  with  stamens  and  pistils  in  the  same  individual), 
the  Sedges  have  the  genders  either  in  separate  spikes,  or  in  sepa- 
rate flowers  on  the  same  spike.  The  origin  of  the  name  Carex 
seems  uncertain.  It  is  supposed  to  be  derived  from  the  Greek, 
and  to  signify  "  sharp,"  from  the  fact  that  many  of  the  species  have 
such  sharp  edges  to  the  leaves  and  culms  as  to  cut  the  careless 
handler.  But  although  of  Greek  derivation,  the  name  is  first 
found  in  Virgil  as  applying  to  this  family  of  plants,  and  it  was 
adopted  by  modern  botanists  just  as  it  stood. 

The  Sedge  Grasses  constitute  a  family  numbering  hundreds 
of  species,  and  some  of  them  are  found  all  over  the  world.  Few 
of  them  have  any  beauty  to  the  casual  observer,  but  many  of 
them  "will   bear  examination"  remarkably  well.     The   present 


38  CAREX    STRICTA. TUSSOCK-SEDGE. 

species  always  attracts  by  the  earliness  of  its  flowers  and  by  the 
large  and  peculiar  tussocks  it  forms  in  low,  swampy  grounds. 
These  tussocks  are  generally  a  foot  high  and  fully  as  wide,  and 
very  often  are  all  the  vegetation  that  exists  to  any  great  extent 
in  swampy  places.  They  are  very  much  assisted  in  their  forma- 
tion by  frost.  As  the  mud  and  water  expand  by  freezing,  the 
sedge-tufts  are  lifted  by  the  expansion,  and  the  finer  particles  of 
mud  settle  under  them  in  the  early  thaw.  The  tussocks,  there- 
fore, do  not  grow  up  from  the  mud  as  by  a  stem,  but  are  lifted 
gradually,  and  the  plant-collector  often  experiences  the  truth  of 
this  observation  to  his  cost,  by  finding  that  they  tilt  over  under 
his  foot,  as  he  steps  from  one  to  the  other. 

A  very  interesting  fact  may  be  noticed  in  the  tussocks  in  early 
spring„  On  the  south  side  the  flowers  are  perfected  often  a 
full  week  before  those  on  the  north  side.  So  little  warmth  is 
required  to  bring  them  forth  that  the  very  small  difference  in 
the  temperature  between  the  north  and  the  south  side  of  the  same 
plant  is  enough  to  make  this  difference  in  time. 

Another  interesting  observation  can  be  made  on  the  develop- 
ment of  the  staminate  spikes.  The  stamens  burst  from  their 
enclosing  scales  very  early  in  the  morning,  and  by  about  nine 
o'clock  have  opened  their  anther  cells  and  committed  their 
abundant  yellow  pollen  to  the  winds.  Nothing  but  dry  mem- 
brane remains  to  represent  the  anthers  for  the  rest  of  the  day. 
This  process  commences  from  the  upper  part  of  the  spike  down- 
wards, and  only  a  few  series  mature  every  day.  The  next,  a 
fresh  series,  lower  down,  take  their  part  in  this  action,  and  after 
several  days  the  whole  spike  has  bloomed. 

The  precise  meaning  of  the  division  of  sexes  —  the  arrange- 
ment of  female  flowers  in  one  head  and  male  flowers  in  another 
—  is  not  yet  clear  to  botanists.  In  these  Sedges  the  pollen-bear- 
ing or  staminate  flowers  are  usually  mature  at  a  time  when  the 
pistils  of  the  female  flowers  on  the  same-  spike  are  not  in  a  recep- 
tive condition,  and  the  fertilization  of  the  flower  therefore  is 
more  likely  to  be  from  the  pollen  of  another  flower  on  the  same 


CAREX    STRICTA. TUSSOCK-SEDGE.  39 

plant,  but  on  another  spike,  or  even  from  a  flower  on  a  different 
plant.  The  meaning  was  supposed  to  be  that  it  was  an  arrange- 
ment to  avoid  close  breeding ;  but  Mr.  Darwin  has  shown  that 
for  any  benefit  to  result  from  cross-fertilization  the  two  parent 
plants  must  be  growing  under  different  conditions,  which  is  not 
the  case  with  the  numerous  plants  of  this  one  Sedge  growing  in 
the  same  swamp  together.  The  true  meaning  of  separate  sexes 
in  flowers,  therefore,  still  awaits  discovery  by  some  observing 
student. 

The  relative  positions  of  the  male  and  female  flowers  in  the 
Sedges  will  also  interest  the  observer.  In  some  cases  the  spike 
of  male  flowers  terminates  the  scape ;  in  others  the  male  flowers 
occupy  the  lower  place ;  in  others,  again,  they  have  various  places 
on  the  same  spike.  It  will  be  generally  noted  that  this  is  asso- 
ciated together  with  lines  of  nutrition,  —  those  evidently  favored 
by  comparative  abundance  sustaining  the  female  flowers.  And 
this  is  indeed  a  natural  consequence,  for,  as  vitality  exists  so 
much  longer  in  the  female  than  the  male  flowers,  which  gener- 
ally die  when  the  pollen  has  matured,  it  is  essential  that  they 
should  have  every  advantage  in  this  respect.  Our  present 
species  has  the  male  spike  terminal ;  but  as  seen  in  the  more 
mature  portion  (Fig.  2),  the  apex  of  the  female  spike  is  sometimes 
infertile. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  the  swamps  along  the  lines  of  rail- 
road tracks  are  often  burned  over,  and  it  is  interesting  to  note 
that  these  tussocks,  although  exposed  on  all  sides  to  fire,  and  left 
as  if  they  were  mere  lumps  of  ashes,  push  out  their  green  blades 
as  if  no  fire  had  been  about  them.  It  is  an  excellent  illustration 
of  the  determination  to  succeed  under  severe  trials,  which  is 
generally  successful  in  those  who  struggle  with  the  ills  of  life. 
In  fact,  such  people  are  often  better  for  having  struggled,  and 
here  we  have  a  still  further  illustration,  for  the  burned-over 
plants  have  the  full  benefit  of  the  salts  contained  in  the  con- 
sumed vegetation,  and  push  into  growth  of  a  healthy,  bluish- 
green,  while  those  that  have  not  been  "  tried   as  by  fire,"  and 


40  CAREX    STRICTA. TUSSOCK-SEDGE. 

can  only  make  a  nutritious  use  of  last  year  s  foliage  by  gradual 
and  slow  decay,  grow  with  a  yellowish  tint. 

The  name  stricta  is  given  from  the  stiff,  upright  leaves  of 
early  spring,  but  these  droop  over  gracefully  before  fall.  For 
the  same  reason  the  plant  is  in  some  places  called  "  Upright- 
leaved  Sedee,"  althouo-h  its  best  known  common  name  is  "  Tus- 
sock-Sedge." 

As  a  rule  the  Sedge  Grasses  are  of  little  value  to  the  human 
race ;  cattle  exhibit  no  great  relish  for  them ;  but  this  species, 
when  dried,  yields  very  fair  hay  for  cows,  though  it  is  not  re- 
garded as  so  nutritious  as  the  true  grasses.  Its  chief  use  in 
nature  is  in  aiding  swampy  ground  to  gather  the  soil  that  drifts 
from  the  high  land,  and  make  land  that  will  in  time  sustain  a 
more  nutritious  growth. 

Shakespeare  makes  Hotspur,  in  "  Henry  IV,"  refer  to  the 
marsh-loving  character  of  the  Sedge  Grass  when  he  speaks  of 

"The  gentle  Severn's  sedgy  bank," 

The  "  Tussock-Sedge"  is  a  native  of  most  of  the  States  east 
of  the  Mississippi,  except  the  extreme  South,  and  is  also  native 
to  Europe. 

Explanation  of  the  Plate.  —  i.     A  portion  of  a  tussock  in  flower  in  May.  —  2.     A  scape  a 
month  Later,  with  achenes  or  seeds  partially  formed. 


Plate  1 1, 


CUPHEA    VISCOSISSIMA 

L .  Prrng  &  CoMPAWY,  Boston  . 


CUPHEA    VISCOSISSIMA. 

BLUE   WAX-WEED. 

NATURAL  ORDER,  LYTHRACE^. 

CuPHEA  VISCOSISSIMA,  Jacquin.  —  Annual,  clammy-pubescent;  leaves  thin,  opposite,  ovate- 
lanceolate,  long  petioled,  rough  ;  flowers  nearly  sessile,  borne  between  the  petioles,  solitary  ; 
petals  violet-purple;  stamens  12.  (Chapman's  Flora  of  the  Southern  States.  See  also 
Gray's  Manual  and  Wood's  Class-Book  of  Botany.) 

HIS  plant,  known  by  the  common  name  of  "  Blue  Wax- 
Weed,"  is  not  particularly  showy,  but  is  sure  to  attract 
the  collector  by  its  singular  structure.  The  flower  has  six  petals 
inserted  on  the  calyx,  but  four  of  them  are  mere  narrow  threads, 
leaving  to  the  two  upper  ones  the  support  of  all  the  reputation 
for  beauty  the  little  flower  may  possess.  We  are  often  tempted 
to  believe  that  the  color  of  a  flower  is  for  the  purpose  of  attracting 
insects.  It  may  be  so,  and  there  are  many  botanists  who  accept 
this  as  the  true  e-xplanation  of  the  motive  for  color.  Yet  it 
would  seem  that  our  plant  would  have  been  better  served  in  this 
respect  if  all  the  six  petals  were  of  equal  prominence  in  size  and 
color ;  and  it  is  more  than  likely,  if  flowers  be  really  intended  to 
attract  insects,  and  if,  as  some  botanists  further  contend,  certain 
special  flowers  are  even  specially  designed  to  attract  special 
insects,  that  form  is  quite  as  important  as  color  in  this  respect, 
and  that  the  variety  of  form  as  well  as  the  origin  of  color  may  be 
due  to  the  same  cause. 

The  calyx  and  stems  are  somewhat  colored,  and  so  help  to 
make  the  plant  attractive.  There  is  a  slight  swelling  on  the 
upper  side  of  the  calyx  at  the  base,  which  gives  it  a  gibbous 
appearance,  and  this  suggested  the  botanical  name,  Ctiphea,  which 


42  CUPHEA    VISCOSISSIMA. BLUE    WAX-WEED. 

is  derived  from  a  Greek  word  signifying  "  curved,"  The  com- 
mon crape  myrtle  of  our  gardens,  which  belongs  to  the  same 
natural  order  of  Lythracecs,  may  give  some  general  idea  of  the 
family  relations,  while  the  well-known  cigar  flower,  Ciiphea 
platycentra,  will  afford  ready  means  of  comparison. 

The  plant  is  a  most  interesting  one  to  study,  as  showing  how 
very  little  differences  in  structure  will  lead  to  great  diversity 
in  organization.  One  would  not  at  first  sight  suppose  there  was 
any  very  close  relationship  between  Cup/iea  viscosissima  and  the 
common  garden  Fuchsia.,  and  when  the  student  turns  to  his 
text-book  of  botanical  classification  he  finds  them  widely  sepa- 
rated. But  there  is  really  little  difference  essentially.  The 
calyx  in  Cuphea,  as  seen  in  our  present  species,  is  not  united 
with  the  ovary,  and  the  former  is  in  botanical  language  inferior; 
but  in  the  Fuchsia  the  calyx  is  so  completely  united  with  the 
ovary  that  we  see  no  trace  of  it  until  we  are  beyond  the  berry, 
and  we  say  then  the  calyx  is  superior.  It  is  only  a  more  com- 
plete union  of  calyx  with  ovary,  that  makes  what  might  be  an 
Oiiograceous  plant  {Fuchsia)  a  Lythraceous  one  {Cupheci).  Again, 
if  we  compare  it  with  a  mock  orange  {PJiiladelphus)  or  com- 
mon garden  Deutzia  (order  Saxifragacecs),  we  shall  note  that 
these  have  several  pistils,  while  in  Cuphea  there  is  but  one. 
Normally,  however,  there  are  more,  and  our  plant  is  to  be  re. 
garded  of  so  distinct  an  order  simply  from  the  fact  that  they 
have  been  consolidated  into  one.  These  little  facts  help  the 
student  much  in  the  knowledge  of  the  relationships  of  the  great 
families  of  plants. 

Our  species  has  not  been  found  worthy  of  being  admitted  to 
gardens  so  far,  but  in  a  wild  state  we  note  a  tendency  to  variation 
in  the  size  of  the  petals,  and  no  doubt  careful  selection  might 
find  some  forms  capable  of  floral  improvement.  It  is  named  Ctc- 
phea  viscosissima  —  the  very  clamrny  Cuphea  —  from  the  extreme 
viscidity  of  its  exudations,  greater  perhaps  than  in  any  other 
species  of  the  genus.  The  plant  is,  indeed,  quite  as  clammy  as 
the  Drosera,  which  is  supposed  to  make   use  of  its  glandular 


CUPHEA    VISCOSISSIMA. BLUE    WAX-WEED.  43 

hair  to  catch  insects,  and  in  a  certain  sense  to  eat  them.  Our 
plant  is  seldom  seen  without  insects  adhering  to  the  sticky- 
stems,  and  it  is  not  at  all  unlikely  that  by  the  aid  of  the  exudation 
from  the  glandular  hairs  the  nitrogenous  substance  of  the  insect 
is  absorbed  and  made  use  of.  We  have,  however,  never  been  able 
to  note  the  slightest  motion  in  these  glandular  hairs,  as  Mr. 
Darwin  observed  in  the  Drosera. 

Another  singular  feature  to  be  noted  is  that,  while  in  most 
plants  the  peduncle  or  flower-stalk  arises  from  the  axil  or  point 
just  between  the  stem  and  the  base  of  the  stalk,  in  this  case  it 
comes  from  between  the  two  opposite  petioles.  This  is  a  feature 
common  to  many  other  Cupheas.  The  flower  is  probably  formed 
from  the  whole  central  growth  of  the  axis,  and  then  subsequently 
pushed  out  of  position  by  the  development  and  growth  of  a  new 
central  axis  or  stem.  Another  very  interesting  matter  is  the 
way  in  which  the  seeds  are  attached  on  one  side  only  of  the 
placentae,  and  also  the  bursting  of  the  capsule,  with  the  thrusting 
out  of  the  seeds  before  they  are  mature.  The  rupture  of  the 
carpel  and  pushing  out  of  the  mass  of  seeds  is  clone  with  great 
rapidity,  and  is  worthy  of  being  closely  watched  by  the  observer. 
The  seeds  have  to  ripen  after  their  exposure  to  the  open  air,  — 
a  phenomenon  not  often  met  with  in  the  vegetable  world.  Our 
artist  has  shown  this  feature  very  well  in  the  plate  (Fig.  2). 

The  geographical  relations  of  this  plant  are  also  quite  inter- 
esting. The  home  of  the  genus  is  in  Mexico  and  Brazil,  and 
there  are  about  a  hundred  species  known,  but  only  two  grow 
within  the  limits  of  the  United  States,  and  of  these,  only  this  one 
is  found  to  any  extent  in  our  country.  It  may  be  considered  an 
emigrant  from  the  tropics,  and  perhaps  is  still  wandering  north- 
ward. The  earlier  botanists  gave  Pennsylvania  as  its  most 
northern  limit,  but  Dr.  Gray,  in  the  later  editions  of  his  Manual, 
locates  it  as  far  north  as  Connecticut.  It  is  mostly  confined, 
however,  to  the  seaboard  States,  though  as  we  go  south  it  passes 
the  Mississippi  and  extends  down  the  continent  to  Brazil. 

It  has  not  made  its  mark  in  literature  in  any  special  capacity. 


44  CUPHEA    VISCOSISSIMA.  —  BLUE    WAX-WEED. 

One  single  species  of  the  genus  has  attained  some  celebrity  in 
Brazil  as  a  febrifuge,  but  the  whole  order  has  little  to  offer  to  us 
so  far,  but  singularity  of  structure  and  a  petite  style  of  beauty. 

Our  species  is  an  annual,  and  is  generally  found  in  old  fields, 
or  partially  shaded  waste  places. 

Explanation  of  the  Plate.  —  i.     A  branch.  —  2.     Capsule  with  immature  seeds  exposed. 
—  3.     Stem,  magnified,  with  captured  insect. 


Vg 


Plate    12. 


rr 


iiiALiCTRUM    DIOICUM, 

1 .  PRAjrO  &  COMPAl'IV,  SOF/;  :  i. 


THALICTRUM    DIOICUM. 

EARLY    MEADOW-RUE. 

NATURAL  ORDER,  RANUNCULACE^. 

TUALiCTRUM  DIOICUM,  L.  —  Smooth  and  pale  or  glaucous;  i  to  2  feet  high ;  leaves  all  with 
general  petioles  ;  leaflets  drooping,  rounded,  and  3-  to  7-lobed  ;  flowers  purplish  and 
greenish  ;  the  yellowish  anthers  linear,  mucronate,  drooping  on  fine  capillary  filaments. 
(Gray's  Maimal  of  Botany  of  the  Northern  States.  See  also  Torrey  &  Gray's  Flora  of 
United  States,  Chapman's  Flora  of  the  Southern  States,  Wood's  Class-Book  of  Botany,  etc.) 

ODERN  botanists  have  been  puzzled  to  account  for  the 

derivation  of  the  name  Thalictriim.     Sir  WilHam  Hooker 

supposed  it  might  be  from  the  Greek  word  thallo,  signifying 
"  sreen  "  or  "  luxuriant  "  ;  but  those  who  have  succeeded  him  tell 
us  it  is  of  "  obscure  derivation."  Pliny  refers  to  a  plant  known  in 
his  time  as  Thalietrum,  and  it  is  not  unlikely  that  our  present 
botanical  name  is  identical  with  this  old  Roman  name  (the  c  in  the 
modern  appellation  being  simply  a  misprint  for  c\  although  the 
latter  is  said  to  have  belonged  to  a  plant  with  some  reputation 
as  an  "all-heal,"  while  none  of  the  species  have  any  medical 
virtues,  with  the  exception  of  perhaps  one,  which  was  used  as  a 
plaster  in  some  forms  of  rheumatism  and  similar  troubles,  until 
superseded  by  Arnica.  Many  an  old  name  has  been  adopted  by 
the  moderns  on  a  still  more  slender  foundation.  The  common 
name  is  "  Meadow -Rue,"  from  a  fancied  resemblance  in  the 
leaves  to  the  common  garden  herb  of  this  name,  with  "  Meadow" 
as  indicating  the  places  in  which  it  loves  to  grow.  The  Meadow- 
Rue  proper,  however,  is  one  of  the   European  forms,  while  our 


46  THALICTRUM    DIOICUM. EARLY    MEADOW-RUE. 

species  is  a  denizen  of  woods  or  partially  shaded  places.  It 
grows  in  the  Atlantic  States  from  Canada  to  North  Carolina, 
and,  according  to  Torrey  and  Gray,  westward  to  Oregon.  Sev- 
eral very  closely  allied  species  grow  in  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

This  —  the  Early  Meadow-Rue  —  has  no  brilliant  colors  to 
recommend  it,  but  its  graceful  foliage  always  attracts  the  early 
spring-flower  gatherer,  by  whom  it  is  made  to  do  duty  for  ferns 
in  the  ornamental  arrangement  of  the  gathered  treasures.  It  is, 
however,  not  without  interest  to  the  closer  student.  The  sexes 
are  on  separate  plants  in  most  of  the  American  species,  while 
the  European  branches  of  the  family  have  hermaphrodite  flowers. 
These  facts  have  acquired  great  interest  for  the  botanist  since 
the  publication  of  Mr.  Darwin's  works.  Where  the  flowers  are 
dioecious,  —  that  is,  having  the  male  flowers  on  one  plant  and  the 
female  on  another,  —  the  latter,  of  course,  can  only  be  fertilized  by 
the  pollen  from  a  distinct  individual,  and  this  would  be  rerarded 
by  Mr.  Darwin  as  so  much  in  favor  of  the  vigor  and  powers  of 
endurance  of  the  progeny.  It  might  be  instructive  to  students 
to  examine  how  far  inferior  the  hermaphrodite  forms  may  be  in 
these  respects.  At  first  sight  it  would  seem  that  the  hermaphro- 
dite forms  of  Europe  have  succeeded  just  as  well,  in  the  struggle 
for  life,  as  the  dioecious  ones  of  this  continent ;  but  this  should 
be  made  the  subject  of  direct  examination,  for  the  faithful  student 
of  nature  takes  nothing  for  granted  until  he  has  the  facts  in 
detail  before  him. 

The  most  showy  plants  are  not  always  the  most  interesting. 
They  may  have  beauty  and  yet  teach  little.  Plain-looking 
plants,  on  the  contrary,  may  be  very  instructive,  and  this  is  the 
case  with  the  Early  Meadow-Rue. 

In  many  plants  there  are  leafy  appendages  at  the  base  of  the 
leaves,  called  stipules.  In  general  they  appear  as  if  they  were 
small  leaves,  and  in  a  measure  distinct  from  the  main  leaf.  In 
the  class  of  plants  now  described  there  are  appearances  at  the 
base  of  the  leaves  somewhat  similar,  but  they  are  formed  by  the 
flattened  and  expanded  base  of   the  leaf   itself.     These   are  not 


THALICTRUM    DIOICUM. EARLY    MEADOW-RUE.  47 

considered  stipules  by  botanists,  but  are  called  "  dilated  petioles." 
They,  however,  serve   the  same  purposes  as  true  stipules,  and 
when  structural  botany  shall  have  been  more  closely  investigated, 
they  may  be  found   to  have  a  similar  origin.      In  our    Early 
Meadow-Rue  this  spreading  out  of  the  base  is  beautifully  illus- 
trated, extending  as  it  does  all  around,  and  giving  the  stem  the 
appearance  of  having  grown  through  it.     Another  interesting 
lesson  is  derived  from  watching  the  development  of  the  flowers 
up  from  the  leaves  through  all  their  stages,  and  the  comparison 
of   the  facts  as  they  appear  separately  in  the  male  and  female 
stalks.     Taking  our  female  illustration  (Fig.  i),  we  see  that  the 
slender  stem  bearing  the  panicle  of  flowers  is  but  a  continuation 
of  the  main  stalk.     If  it  had  been  stronger,  the  branchlets  of  the 
panicle,  instead  of   being  flowers,  would   have   been  leaves   or 
branchlets.     A  sudden  retardation  of  growth  has  made  flowers 
of  what  would  otherwise  have  been  leaves.     In  the  lower  branch- 
let,  indeed,  we  see  a  small  leaflet,  the  arrestation  not  having 
been  quick  enough  to  make  a  flower  of  it.     This  affords  a  good 
iUustration   of   the   morphological  law,  —  that  the  parts  of    the 
inflorescence  are  only  leaves  and  branches  modified.     But  there 
is   stiU   another  lesson   taught  here.     By  turning  to   the   male 
flowers  (Fig.  2)  we  see  a  much   greater   number  of   bracts  or 
smaU  leaves  scattered  through  the  panicle,  and  find  the  pedicels 
longer  than  in  the  female ;  and  this  shows  a  much  slighter  effort 
—  a  less  expenditure  of  force  —  to  be  required  in  forming  male 
than  female  flowers.     A  male  flower,  as  we  see  clearly  here,  is 
an  intermediate  stage  between  a  perfect  leaf  and  a  perfect,  or  we 
may  say,  a  female*  flower.     It  seems  as   if  there  might  be  as 
much  truth  as  poetry  in  the  expression  of  Burns, — 

"  Her  'prentice  han'  she  tried  on  man, 
An'  then  she  made  the  lasses,  O," 

at  least  in  so  far  as  the  flowers  are  concerned,  and  in  the  sense 
pf  a  higher  effort  of  vital  power. 


48  THALICTRUM    DIOICUM. EARLY    MEADOW-RUEo 

The  Early  Meadow- Rue  is  hardly  showy  enough  for  the 
flower  garden,  but  those  who  like  elegant  foliage  might  find  a 
place  for  it  in  some  half-shaded  corner.  It  will  not  be  found  at 
all  difficult  to  grow. 


Explanation  of  the  Plate.  —  i.     Stalk  with  female  flowers.  —  2.     Stalk  with  male  flowers. 
—  3.     Female  flower,  showing  the  separate  pistils.  — 4.    Male  flower  with  perfect  stamens. 


VOL. 


Plate  13. 


4^. 


/'^  -^  : 


IE  PA.TEI 


.NUTTALLTANA 


ANEMONE  PATENS.  VAR.  NUTTALLIANA. 

NUTTALL'S    PASQUE-FLOWER. 

NATURAL  ORDER,  RANUNCULACE7E. 

Anemone  patens,  L.,  var.  Nuttalliana. — Villous,  with  long,  silky  hairs;  flower  erect, 
developed  before  the  leaves  ;  leaves  ternately  divided,  the  lateral  divisions  two-parted, 
the  middle  one  stalked  and  three-parted,  the  segments  deeply  once  or  twice  cleft  into 
narrowly  linear  and  acute  lobes ;  lobes  of  the  involucre,  like  those  of  the  leaves,  at  the 
base  all  united  into  a  shallow  cup  ;  sepals  five  to  seven,  purplish  or  whitish,  spreading 
when  in  full  anthesis.  (Gray's  Mamt-al  of  the  Botany  of  the  Northern  United  States. 
See  also  Wood's  Class-Book.) 

HAT  are  called  "genera"  are  as  much  realities  as  day 
and  night,  but  it  is  as  difficult,  sometimes,  to  define  the 
limits  of  the  first  as  of  the  second ;  for,  in  nature,  things  glide 
into  each  other  imperceptibly,  as  day  glides  into  twilight  before 
night  comes. 

We  experience  this  difficulty  in  the  case  of  the  flower  named 
above.  It  is  an  Anemone ;  and  yet,  in  some  respects,  it  borders 
so  closely  on  Clematis  that  Pursh,  one  of  our  earliest  botanists, 
thought  it  belonged  to  this  genus,  and  called  it  C.  hirstitissima, 
while  others  made  it  into  a  distinct  genus,  and  called  it  Pul- 
satilla, which  is  the  Italian  common  name  of  a  closely  allied 
species,  and  means,  "  Shaken  by  the  wind."  In  Clematis  there 
is  little  tendency  to  make  petals,  —  indeed,  about  four  petal- 
like sepals  are  all  that  are  generally  produced,  —  and  the  seeds 
have  long,  silky  tails  to  them.  The  Pulsatillas  make  a  verticil 
of  sepals,  and  have  no  real  petals ;  and  the  seeds,  as  in  Clematis, 
have  silky  tails.  Dr.  Gray,  however,  as  well  as  other  modern 
botanists,  regards  those  Anemones,  the  seeds  of  which  have 
Clematis-like  tails  {Pulsatillas),  simply  as  a  section  of  the  genus. 
Our  present  species,  which  belongs  to  this  section,  has  but  a 
single  row  of  large,  pale-blue  sepals,  and  these  are  as  silky  as  the 
long-tailed  seeds.     What  is  called  the  involucre  is  a  verticil  of 


50  ANEMONE    PATENS. NUTTALL  S    PASQUE-FLOWER. 

half-transformed  leaves,  the  intermediate  stage  between  perfect 
leaves  and  the  sepals. 

Our  plant  was  discovered  when  the  section  just  alluded  to 
was  known  as  the  genus  Pulsatilla,  and  was  dedicated  to  the 
great  American  botanist,  Thomas  Nuttall;  but  it  was  soon 
found,  on  a  better  acquaintance  with  it,  that  it  was  no  more 
distinct  from  the  European  and  Asiatic  form  of  A.  patens  than 
Pulsatilla  is  from  Ancmoiie,  and  it  was,  therefore,  called  "  Ane- 
mone patens,  var.  Nuttalliana,"  to  indicate  that  it  is  considered 
simply  as  a  variety  of  the  same  species. 

It  seems  to  thrive  remarkably  well  in  gardens,  and,  although 
not  of  a  bright  color,  attracts  by  the  large  size  of  the  sepals. 
The  earliness  of  its  flowers  is  also  a  valued  peculiarity.  Our 
drawing  was  made  in  the  middle  of  April  from  a  specimen  origi- 
nally brought  from  the  Rocky  Mountains.  It  is  said  to  flower 
before  the  leaves  come  out ;  but  under  culture,  it  has  the  leaves 
tolerably  well  developed  before  the  flowers  mature,  as  seen  in 
our  plate. 

The  Anemone  patens  commences  its  career  as  a  "wild  flower" 
on  the  western  shores  of  Lake  Michigan,  reaches  down  into 
Illinois,  and  then  extends  northwest  by  the  Rocky  Mountains 
into  British  America,  and,  by  connection  with  the  typical  species, 
into  Siberia.  The  common  name  given  to  this  plant  is  "Pasque- 
Flower,"  from  the  time  of  its  flowering,  it  being  looked  for  about 
Easter,  or,  as  it  was  called  in  olden  times,  about  the  Paschal 
season. 

The  poets  seem  to  have  united  in  associating  the  idea  of 
expectation  with  Anemone;  not,  however,  from  anything  sug- 
gestive in  the  flower  itself,  but  rather  from  the  circumstances  of 
its  mythological  history.  (See  Anemone  nemorosa,  p.  21,)  The 
flower  is  of  too  transitory  a  character  to  be  considered  the  sym- 
bol of  "  expectation,"  which  should  rather  hope  on  to  the  last. 
Instead  of  being  enduring  and  constant,  our  flower  soon  drops 
its  petals.  Its  true  character  is  better  expressed  in  the  follow- 
ing lines,  the  author  of  which  we  do  not  know :  — 


ANEMONE    TATENS. NUTTALl's    PASQUE-FLOWER.  5  I 

"  There  is  a  power,  a  presence,  in  the  woods, 
A  viewless  Being,  that  with  life  and  love 
Informs  the  reverential  solitude. 
The  rich  air  knows  it,  and  the  mossy  sod. 
Thou,  Thou  art  there,  my  God  ! 
The  silence  and  the  sound 
In  the  low  places  breathe  alike  of  Thee  ; 
The  temple  twilight  of  the  gloom  profound, 
The  dew-cup  of  the  frail  Anemone^ 

The  Anemone  patens  is  indeed  among  the  frailest  of  flowers, 
but  it  is  not  often  found  in  the  "  reverential  solitude  "  of  lonely 
woods.  It  seems  to  prefer  more  exposed  situations,  and  the 
writer  of  this  never  observed  in  it  any  nearer  approach  to  a 
wood-loving  habit  than  the  fact  that  it  grows  under  the  scattered 
pine-trees  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

Among  the  closely  allied  species  of  Europe  and  Asia  many 
beautiful  colored  varieties  have  been  found  which  commend 
themselves  to  the  cultivator ;  but  in  this  country  we  have  noted 
only  the  one  shade  represented  in  the  plate,  although  Don  says 
there  is  a  cream-colored  variety  here. 

The  same  author  also  states  that  the  prairie  dogs  are  very 
fond  of  the  early  flowers.  This  is  a  singular  taste,  and  we  may 
well  wonder,  if  the  report  be  correct,  what  they  find  enjoyable 
in  them,  more  especially  when  we  consider  the  bad  reputation 
which  the  plant  had  in  times  gone  by.  An  old  writer  speaks  of 
it  as  follows :  "  The  Herb,  Flower,  or  Root  being  taken  inwardly 
in  Substance,  are  without  doubt  deleterious,  or  deadly:  It  kills 
by  making  the  Patient  look  Laughing  all  the  while,  whence  it 
obtained  the  Name  of  Apium  Risus  (Laughing  Parsley).  And 
yet  notwithstanding  the  Standers-by,  or  lookers-on,  may  think 
that  the  Patient  is  really  a  Laughing,  or  in  a  Laughing  Humour, 
there  is  indeed  no  such  thing.  It  only  by  its  Poisonous  qual- 
ities hurts  the  Senses  and  Understanding,  thereby  causing 
Foolishness ;  and  Convulsing  the  Nerves,  especially  of  the 
Mouth,  Jaws,  and  Eyes,  draws  them  this  way  and  that  way,  and 
sometimes  in  a  manner  all  ways,  making  the  sick  seem  to  the 


52 


ANEMONE    PATENS. NUTTALL  S    PASQUE-FLOWER. 


by-standers  as  if  he  continually  Laughed,  whereas  it  is  only  a 
Convulsive  Motion,  wringing  or  drawing  of  the  Mouth  and  Jaws 
awry ;  and  so  tlie  poor  Patient,  dying  in  this  Condition,  the 
lookers-on  think  he  dies  Laughing,  and  so  report  it,  when  at  the 
same  time  there  is  no  such  matter,  but  he  goes  out  of  the  World 
under  the  Sense  of  violent  Convulsions,  vehement  Pain,  and  the 
most  extreme  Torment  imaginable." 

The  ancients,  however,  also  believed  the  Pasque  Flower  to 
have  great  power  against  venomous  reptiles,  and  the  old  writer 
above  quoted  reports  on  this  point  as  follows  :  "  A  cataplasm  of 
the  Herb  or  Root  is  applyed  against  the  Bitings  of  Mad-Dogges, 
Vipers,  Rattlesnakes,  and  other  Poisonous  Creatures  ;  and  to 
places  affected  with  Gout,  Sciatica,  &c.,  with  admirable  success." 
In  our  time,  Aconite  and  other  Ranunculaceous  plants  have 
deprived  the  Pasque-flowers  of  all  medicinal  reputation,  but  the 
story  so  quaintly  told  by  our  old  author  reminds  us  of  another 
peculiarity  in  the  life  of  the  prairie  dog. 

It  is  well  known  that  this  animal  burrows  deep  holes  in  the 
crround,  the  earth  drawn  out  in  working  the  burrow  forming  a 
little  mound  at  the  outlet.  The  popular  belief  is  that  the  owl 
and  the  rattlesnake  make  their  home  in  these  underground 
chambers,  and  that  the  three  animals  live  together  in  peace  and 
harmony.  This  is  a  remarkable  fact,  if  true,  since  most  snakes 
reo-ard  the  young  of  birds  and  other  animals  as  desirable  deli- 
cacies. The  writer  has,  however,  often  seen  the  owl  on  the 
mounds  of  the  prairie  dogs,  and  it  is  possible  the  rattlesnake 
part  of  the  story  may  be  as  correct  as  the  other  ;  but  if  this  is 
so,  mi'd-it  we  not  say,  with  as  much  reason  as  the  ancients 
usually  had  for  what  they  believed,  that  the  prairie  dogs  use  the 
flowers  to  protect  themselves  from  the  bites  of  their  poisonous 
fellow-lodgers  ? 


Explanation  ok  tiik  Plafe.  —  i .  Full-sized  plant.  —  2.  Stamens  and  pistils  after  the  sepals 
have  fallen.  — 3.  Head,  with  long-tailed  achenia.  — .|.  Single  aehene,  or  seed  witli  tailed 
awn. 


Plate  14. 


Orchis  spectabilis, 

L ,  Praug  &  Company,  Boston 


ORCHIS    SPECTABILIS. 

SHOWY  ORCHIS,  OR  PREACHER  IN  THE    PULPIT. 

NATURAL   ORDER,   ORCHIDACEtE. 

Orchis  spectatiilis,  Linnasus.  —  Root  of  thick,  fleshy  fibres,  producing  two  oblong-obovate 
shining  leaves,  three  to  five  inches  long,  and  a  few-flowered,  four-angled  scape,  four  to 
seven  inches  high;  bracts  leaf-like,  lanceolate;  sepals  and  petals  all  lightly  united  to 
form  the  vaulted  galea  or  upper  lip,  pink  purple;  the  ovate  undivided  lip,  white.  (Gray's 
Manual  of  Botany.  See  also  Chapman's /^^ra  (//'/^^.S'oi«//^6V';i.S'Az/6'j-,  and  Wood's  Class-Book.) 

I  HE  Orchid  family  is  well  known  as  the  most  peculiar  in 
the  vegetable  world.  In  the  temperate  regions  of  Eu- 
rope, Asia,  and  America,  the  plants  belonging  to  it  grow  in  the 
earth;  but  in  the  tropics  they  generally  attach  themselves  to 
trees  and  other  objects,  deriving  most  of  their  nutrition  from  the 
atmosphere.  The  flowers,  in  many  cases,  resemble  living  crea- 
tures, frequently  vying  with  them  in  the  beauty  of  their  colors  and 
markings;  and  singularly  dependent,  in  many  cases,  on  insect 
agency  for  the  fertilization  of  their  flowers.  The  purpose  of  the 
necessity  for  fertilization  by  external  agency  does  not  seem  clear, 
though  many  leading  botanists  believe  it  is  expressly  to  avoid 
self-fertilization,  which  they  regard  as  injurious,but  an  Australian 
species  closes  its  flower  with  a  spring  and  catches  the  visiting 
Insect,  according  to  Drummond,  thus  effectually  destroying  its 
chances  of  cross-fertilization,  if  that  were  the  object  In  view. 

It  is  indeed  difficult  to  decide  on  the  purpose  of  Nature  in  the 
structure  or  behavior  of  plants,  or  their  several  parts,  because 
Nature's  purposes  are  never  wholly  with  a  present  view.  We 
know  by  geological  and  other  evidences  that  the  plants  of  the 
present  age  are  not  as  plants  were  in  past  periods  of  the  world's 
history.     There  is  an  evident  purpose  that  In  the  future,  plant- 

53 


54  ORCHIS    SPECTABILIS. SHOWY    ORCHIS. 

races  shall  not  be  as  they  are  now,  and  in  pursuit  of  this  plan 
Nature  must  of  necessity  have  a  destructive  as  well  as  a  preserv- 
ative policy,  and  how  a  plant  behaves  may  not  therefore  be 
necessarily  for  its  own  good  in  the  sense  in  which  we  understand 
goodness.  Yet  there  Is  a  tendency  to  question  the  plant  as  to 
the  reasons  for  the  phenomena  it  exhibits,  while  the  questions 
should  really  be  addressed  to  an  external  power  which  is  looking 
into  the  future  far  beyond. 

Not  only  may  we  ask,  Why  are  these  flowers  arranged  for 
cross-fertilization  ?  but,  Why  are  they  made  to  simulate  so  many 
forms  of  the  animal  world?  Some  have  supposed  that  the 
resemblance  to  insects  was  to  attract  insects,  but  it  is  difficult  to 
understand  how  the  Orchids  accomplish  this  any  better  than 
those  flowers  which  have  no  peculiar  form.  If  there  were  any 
design  in  the  relationship  between  the  flowers  and  the  animate 
forms  they  represent,  it  might  have  been  to  frighten  the  insects 
away,  for  we  rarely  see  an  insect  interfering  with  another  while 
it  is  at  work.  Indeed,  this  point  has  been  actually  suggested  by 
one  of  the  poets,  in  the  following  lines :  — 

"  The  orchis  race,  with  varied  beauty,  charm 
And  mock  the  exploring  fly,  or  bee's  aerial  form." 

These  remarks  are  offered  that  the  student  may  not  hastily 
decide  from  form,  or  the  arrangements  of  structure,  that  the 
immediate  purposes  of  Nature  are  clearly  manifested.  Very 
often  the  plant's  behavior  has  a  direct  relationship  to  its  individ- 
ual prosperity,  but  by  no  means  always.  Our  species  has  no 
striking  resemblance  to  any  particular  insect,  but  it  attracts  all 
lovers  of  wild  flowers  by  the  very  pretty  contrast  of  the  deli- 
cate rosy-pink  upper  sepal  with  the  large  white  labellum  or  lip. 
The  unusually  long  spur  is  a  striking  characteristic. 

The  name  "  Orchis  "  was  already  in  use  by  the  ancients ;  but 
with  the  progress  of  botany,  the  species  bearing  this  name  have 
been  placed  in  various  genera,  so   that   the  one  we  illustrate  is 


ORCHIS    SPECTABILIS. SHOWY    ORCHIS,  55 

now  the  only  representative  of  the  genus  Orchis,  as  estabhshed 
by  Linnaeus,  which  we  have  in  the  United  States,  and  even  this 
was  transferred  by  Sprengel  to  Habaiaria. 

Most  of  our  Orchids,  that  we  should  call  pretty,  seem  to 
prefer  growing  in  open  places;  but  this  is  one  of  the  few  which 
deliM-it  in  the  shade  and  shelter  of  the  woods,  where  it  is  among 
the  later  spring  flowers  to  bloom.  In  Pennsylvania,  it  is  to  be 
found  in  the  early  part  of  the  month  of  June,  and  probably  a 
little  earlier  or  later,  as  it  grows  northward  or  southward  of 
this.  Dr.  Gray  gives  its  range  as  from  "  New  England  to 
Kentucky,  especially  northward."  Botanists  generally  do  not 
report  it  as  very  abundant  in  any  one  place.  The  writer  has 
seldom  been  able  to  gather  more  than  a  dozen  or  two  on  any 
one  botanical  excursion,  though  it  is  doubtless  more  plentiful  in 
some  places.  Dr.  Darlington,  in  his  Flora  Cestrica,  speaks  of  it 
as  being  frequent  in  the  rich  woods  of  Chester  County,  Pa.,  and 
as  havino;  the  common  name  there  of  "  Preacher  in  the  Pulpit." 
It  seems,  however,  to  have  no  popular  name  in  other  parts  of 
the  United  States.  Dr.  Gray,  in  the  Manual,  simply  translates 
its  scientific  name,  "  Showy  Orchis." 

Generally  speaking,  our  native  terrestrial  Orchids  are  impa- 
tient of  culture.  They  will  sometimes  do  well  for  a  few  years, 
but  usually  disappear  in  time.  This  one  has  not  been  tried  to 
any  great  extent,  but  would  no  doubt  transplant  well  to  places 
similar  to  those  in  which  it  is  found  naturally,  and  might  then 
perhaps  spread,  and  do  well.  It  could  be  made  to  succeed,  if 
the  same  amount  of  skill  were  brought  to  bear  on  it  which  the 
intelligent  cultivator  gives  to  the  epiphytal  species  from  the 
tropics. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that,  while  most  of  the  true  Orchises 
of  Europe  have  a  tuberous  root  in  addition  to  the  fibres,  our 
species  has  fleshy  fibres  only.  In  the  foreign  species,  there  are  a 
pair  of  these  tubers,  one  of  the  past  and  the  other  of  the  present 
season's  growth,  the  one  growing  out  of,  and  seemingly  being 
supported  by  the  other,  and  at  length  appearing  to  draw  wholly 


56  ORCHIS    SPECTABILIS. SHOWY    ORCHIS. 

out  the  parent's  life.     On  this  Darwin,  in  his  "  Botanic  Garden," 
has  the  following  exj^ressive  lines :  — 

'With  blushes  bright  as  morn  fair  Orchis  charms, 
And  lulls  her  infant  in  her  fondlins:  arms  ; 
Soft  plays  affection  round  her  bosom's  throne, 
And  guards  his  life,  forgetful  of  her  own." 

Our  illustration  is  from  a  Pennsylvania  specimen. 

A  useful  starchy  product  is  obtained  from  the  roots  of  some 
of  the  European  species  of  Orchis;  but  our  species  is  of  no 
known  value  to  man,  unless,  as  some  good  thinkers  will  have  it, 
mere  beauty  is  as  essential  as  the  more  material  things  of  life. 


Vol. 


?Lf. 


t)YMPLOCARPUS    FCSTIDUS, 


SYMPLOCARPUS    FCETIDUS. 

SKUNK-CABBAGE. 

NATURAL   ORDER,   ARACE^. 

Symtlocarpus  FCETIDUS,  Salisbury.  —  Spathe  conch-shaped,  acuminate;  spadix  on  a  short, 
peduncle-like  scape,  oval  and  densely  covered  and  tessellated  with  flowers  ;  stamens  four, 
opposite  the  fleshy,  cucullate  sepals;  ovary  one-celled;  style  four-sided,  tapering  to  a 
minute  stigma ;  fruit  an  oval,  fleshy,  berry-like  mass  coalesced  with  the  base  of  the  per- 
sistent sepals  and  imbedded  within  the  spongy  receptacle ;  seed  globular,  destitute  of 
albumen  ;  leaves  at  first  orbicular  cordate,  finally  cordate  oval,  on  short  petioles  ;  spadix 
much  shorter  than  the  spathe.  (Darlington's  Floi-a  Cestrica.  See  also  Gray's  Mamtal, 
Wood's  Class-Book,  Chapman's  Flora  of  the  Southern  States.) 

|NDER  the  name  of  "  Skunk-Cabbage,"  the  plant  we  now 
illustrate  is  very  widely  known.  It  is  our  earliest  flow- 
ering plant,  and  the  news  of  its  first  appearance  is  always  hailed 
with  delight  by  those  who  are  anxiously  looking  for  the  first 
flowers  of  spring.  It  is  singular,  indeed,  that  it  appears  so  early. 
No  matter  how  deeply  the  ground  may  have  been  frozen  in  the 
winter,  the  first  few  warm  days  find  the  flowers  ready  to  expand. 
The  roots  are  seldom  less  than  six  inches  from  the  surface,  and 
it  is  quite  probable  that  the  pushing  buds  have  grown  up  in 
some  degree  during  the  winter,  thawing  their  way,  as  it  were, 
through  the  frozen  ground  ;  for  plants  are  in  some  respects 
like  animals,  and  must  keep  up  a  certain  degree  of  heat,  no 
matter  how  low  the  temperature  may  be  about  them.  The 
degree  necessary  is  not,  of  course,  near  so  high  as  that  required 
by  animals,  but  it  is  not  probable  that  the  juices  of  these  plants 
ever  thoroughly  congeal,  and  thus  the  buds  are  able  to  keep 
travelling  slowly  upwards  at  comparatively  low  temperatures. 
That  the  parts  would  die  if  frozen  is  shown  by  some  of  the 
earliest  flowers.  Very  often  they  are  in  such  haste  to  open 
that  they  mistake  a  few  warm  February  days  for  tlic  return  of 
spring,  and  expand  only  to  meet  severe  weather.     In  these  cases; 


58  SYMPLOCARPUS    FCETIDUS. SKUNK-CABBAGE. 

we  find  the  spadix  or  interior  mass  of  flowers  (see  Fig.  2)  frozen 
through  so  soHdly  that  it  is  with  difficulty  they  can  be  cut  apart, 
and  then  they  become  black  and  rapidly  decompose  on  thawing. 
In  the  spring  of  1877,  the  writer  of  this  noticed  plants  in  full 
flower  in  early  March  that  were  afterwards  subjected  for  a  week 
to  a  temperature  below  freezing  point,  and  part  of  the  time  to 
eighteen  degrees  below.  How  little  heat  Is  required  to  bring 
forth  the  flower  is  well  Illustrated  in  one  of  Colllnson's  letters 
to  Bartram,  who  sent  some  plants  to  England,  which  Collinson 
says  had  "beautiful  flowers  on  them  when  the  package  was 
opened,"  called  out  by  the  mere  heat  of  the  ship's  hold. 

The  Skunk -Cabbage  can  also  teach  us  a  good  lesson  In 
botanical  relationship.  Everybody  knows  the  Calla  of  our 
green-houses,  properly  Richardia  Aithiopica,  and  many  know 
that  it  belongs  to  the  Aracece  or  Ariun  family.  The  relation- 
ship between  these  two  plants  will  at  once  be  suspected.  It  Is 
close,  but  there  is  some  difference.  Looking  at  the  Calla,  we 
see  the  spadix  has  male  flowers  along  the  upper  portion,  and 
the  female  flowers  separately  below.  Our  plant  has  these 
organs  both  in  the  one  little  flower.  They  are  hermaphrodite, 
while  the  true  Arums  are  monoecious.  The  family  to  which 
our  plant  belongs  has  been  separated  as  Orontiacccu  by  some, 
but  our  distinguished  botanist.  Dr..  Asa  Gray,  classes  it  with 
the  AracecE.  Indeed,  characters  founded  on  sexual  organs  are 
unreliable.  In  the  Skunk-Cabbage  they  are  variable.  In  most 
of  the  flowers  of  the  spadix  we  find  four  stamens  and  four 
sepals,  but  in  the  course  at  the  base  there  are  generally  five  of 
each,  and  instances  of  five  stamens  with  only  four  sepals  are  not 
uncommon  in  the  upper  flowers  of  the  head.  It  is  very  likely 
that  in  some  cases  the  pistils  entirely  abort,  leaving  nothing  but 
perfect  stamens  to  represent  the  flower.  We  have  here  a  good 
lesson  on  the  unreliability  of  these  parts  in  establishing  fixed 
characters  In  botanical  descriptions. 

It  will  also  please   the  student  to  watch  the  development  of 
stamens  and  pistils.     If  the  temperature  remains  above  forty-five 


SYMPLOCARPUS    FCETIDUS. SKUNK-CABBAGE.  59 

degrees  for  about  three  days,  the  stamens  will  be  fully  developed 
in  that  time,  but  if  only  a  very  little  above  freezing  point,  it 
takes  about  a  week  to  mature  them  after  the  pistil  has  been 
fully  developed  and  is  ready  for  poUenization  ;  for  the  pistil 
seems  to  finish  its  growth  before  the  stamens  begin  to  make 
theirs.  The  stigma  is  a  beautiful  object  under  the  lens,  being 
capped  by  a  crown  of  delicate,  fringy  hairs.  The  anthers  are 
very  large,  and  soon  burst,  discharging  an  immense  amount  of 
pollen,  not  only  on  their  own  pistil,  but  on  those  below.  At  the 
bottom  of  the  shell-like  spathe  an  immense  quantity  collects,  and 
eives  us  some  idea  of  the  wondrous  exuberance  of  nature. 

Aeain,  there  is  much  of  interest  in  this  flower  in  connection 
with  modern  theories  of  the  necessity  and  utility  of  cross-fertil- 
ization. AracecB  have  dry,  dusty  pollen,  and  generally  color- 
less floral  envelopes,  and  they  are  thought  to  be  cross-fertilized 
by  the  aid  of  the  wind.  The  maturity  of  the  pistil  before  the 
stamens  in  the  same  flower  is  also  regarded  as  indicating  that 
the  purposes  of  nature  would  be  better  served  by  the  pollen 
being  received  by  the  stigma  from  another  flower.  In  the  case 
of  our  species,  the  spathe  coils  round  the  flower-head  and  pro- 
tects it  from  the  wind.  It  might  be  that  the  spathe  is  neces- 
sarily coiled  to  protect  the  flowers  in  this  dangerous  season,  and 
so  color  is  bestowed  on  it  to  attract  pollen-carrying  insects ;  but 
there  are  none  of  this  class  at  this  season.  The  scent  may 
attract  flies,  and  these  do  visit  the  flowers.  If  the  temperature 
goes  suddenly  to  sixty  degrees,  as  it  often  does  in  early  spring, 
even  though  the  thermometer  may  have  been  for  days  below 
the  freezing  point,  flies  will  abound.  Pollen  might  possily  be 
carried  by  them  to  the  unfertilized  pistils,  and  this  would  appear 
so  probable  that  any  one  delighting  in  generalizations  might 
take  it  for  o-ranted  that  cross-fertilization  is  thus  effected  ;  but 
the  student  takes  nothing  for  granted  when  actual  observation 
can  be  had.  The  writer  of  this  has  never  been  able  to  detect 
the  slightest  trace  of  pollen  on  the  stigmas  until  they  receive 
it  from  the  flowers  in  their  own  spathe.     Other  students  may, 


60  SYMPLOCARPUS    FGETIDUS. SKUNK-CABBAGE. 

however,  be  more  successful.  This  is  one  of  the  many  unset- 
tled questions  that  will  give  a  zest  to  the  studies  of  those  who 
desire  to  observe  critically  the  development  of  the  flower. 

The  plant  has  been  called  "  Skunlc-Cabbage  "  or  "  Skunk- 
Weed"  from  its  odor;  but  this  is  most  marked  after  being 
bruised.  If  one  will  bend  down  over  a  flower  and  smell  before 
gathering  it,  there  will  be  little  experienced  that  is  disagreeable. 
The  old  Swedish  settlers  around  Philadelphia  used  to  call  it 
"  Bear  Weed."  Bears  were  abundant  amonq-  them  in  those 
days,  and  it  is  said  that  after  coming  out  from  their  long  win- 
ter's sleep,  they  found  this  early  plant  a  great  luxury.  It  must 
have  been  a  hot  morsel,  as  the  juice  is  acrid,  and  is  said  to 
possess  some  narcotic  power,  while  that  of  the  root,  when 
chewed,  causes  the  eyesight  to  grow  dim.  Infusions  of  the 
plant  have  been  used  by  some  physicians  in  whooping-cough 
and  dropsy.  The  plant  is  found  only  to  the  east  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, chiefly  from  North  Carolina  northwards  ;  and  it  has  no 
very  near  relations.  Linnaeus  thought  it  a  Dracojitium,  under 
which  name  it  is  still  referred  to  by  comparatively  modern  au- 
thors. Sims  refers  to  it  as  a  Pothos,  under  which  designation  the 
student  will  yet  sometimes  meet  it ;  but  SymplocaT-p^ts  is  its  now 
generally  accepted  name.  This  is  from  the  Greek,  and  signifies, 
"  united  fruit."  If  we  examine  the  fruit  of  the  common  Indian 
turnip,  we  find  it  a  mass  of  separate  (red)  berries.  In  our  plant 
the  parts  that  might  have  been  distinct  are  so  united  together 
as  to  form  but  a  single,  rough,  globular  mass,  in  which  the  seeds 
are  imbedded,  and  of  so  jDeculiar  a  structure  that  Nuttall  thought 
the  plant  viviparous.  After  separating  from  the  receptacle  and 
becoming  scattered  through  the  ground,  the  seeds  are  occasion- 
ally found  by  laborers  or  others  when  digging  in  the  swampy 
places  where  they  grow,  and  are  generally  regarded  by  them  as 
petrified  corn,  and  as  such  have  often  been  brought  to  the  writer. 

Explanation  of  the  Platf..  —  i.  The  plant  in  flower  before  the  leaves  are  far  advanced. — 
2.  The  spathc  half  cut  away  to  show  the  spadix.  —  3.  Longitudinal  section  of  spadix, 
showing  the  arrangement  of  the  single  flowers  on  the  receptacle.  —  4.     Individual  flowers. 


Plate   16 


PeDICULARI  ^     "^ANATiENSIS: 


L. Pramo  &  COMPA.V/,  Boston 


PEDICULARIS     CANADENSIS. 

COMMON    VVOOD-BETONY. 

NATURAL    ORDER,   SCROPHULARIACEiE. 

PEDICULARIS  Canadensis,  Linnaeus.  —  Hairy,  stems  clustered,  oblique ;  leaves  lance  oblong, 
pinnatifid ;  calyx  obliquely  truncate  ;  upper  lip  of  the  corolla  with  two  setaceous  teeth 
at  the  apex.  (Darlington's  Floj-a  Cestrka.  See  also  Gray's  Manual  of  Botany  of  the 
Northern  States,  and  Chapman's  Flora  of  the  Southern  States.) 

EDICULARIS  is  a  large  genus,  over  a  hundred  species 
which  belong  to  it  having  been  described.  Its  members 
are  most  numerous  in  the  Arctic  regions,  or  at  high  elevations 
In  mountain  districts.  Quite  a  number  are  found  in  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  and  some  species  grow  in  the  high  regions  of  Mex- 
ico. In  the  Atlantic  States  we  have  but  two,  one  of  these  being 
P.  Canadensis,  now  figured.  This  has  a  wide  range  for  a  plant 
whose  family  relations  are  so  far  to  the  north,  as  it  is  found  in 
almost  every  State,  from  Canada  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  ex- 
tends west  to  the  Rocky  Mountains.  In  our  country,  however, 
our  species  seeks  shade  from  the  warm  suns  by  taking  to  open 
woods,  or  getting  on  rising  knolls  in  swamps  or  low  grounds, 
where  it  may  have  the  advantage  of  a  humid  atmosphere.  It 
flowers  very  early  in  spring,  being  generally  out  of  bloom  and 
having  its  fruit  ripened  before  the  first  of  June. 

The  flowers  are  amongst  the  handsomest  of  our  native  plants, 
and  the  fern-like  leaves  set  off  to  great  advantage  the  floral 
beauty.  An  unusual  feature  is  the  great  variety  in  the  colors, 
at  least  in  the  specimens  generally  found  in  Pennsylvania.  The 
upper  portion  of  the  corolla  ranges  from  a  light  brown  to  a  rich 
purple,  while  the  lower  portions  are  of  a  pure  white,  varying  to 
a  light  yellow.  These  natural  tendencies  to  change  offer  great 
inducements  to  the  florist  to  attempt  improvements.      At  any 


62  PEDICULARIS    CANADENSIS. COMMON    WOOD-BETONY. 

rate,  the  wild  forms  can  be  selected  for  cultivation.  The  plants 
do  well  when  transjolanted  from  their  native  wdlds  to  our  flower 
borders,  if  they  are  not  In  a  situation  much  exposed  to  the  full  sun. 

To  those  who  love  to  watch  the  various  processes  of  nature 
in  the  floral  world,  the  manner  In  which  these  flowers  are  fertil- 
ized affords  an  interesting  study.  It  is  diflicult  to  understand 
from  the  structure  how  they  self-fertilize,  or  how  they  can  receive 
much  help  from  insect  agency ;  and  besides,  insects  will  rarely 
be  found  visiting  them,  —  at  least  this  is  the  writer's  experience, 
—  and  yet  every  flower  seems  to  perfect  seed.  There  is  evidently 
a  field  here  for  further  discovery. 

The  name  Pcdicularis  is  a  Latin  adjective,  signifying  "  belong- 
ing to  a  louse."  In  the  northern  countries  of  Europe  some  of 
the  species  abound,  one  of  them,  P.  Sceptrum  Carolinum,  to 
such  strength  and  In  such  abundance  that,  according  to  Lin- 
naeus, It  stopped  a  horse  going  at  full  speed.  In  these  countries 
the  whole  family  Is  In  bad  odor  with  stock-raisers,  from  an  idea 
that  cattle,  and  sheep  especially,  feeding  on  them  become  lousy. 
Like  many  other  old  notions  in  agriculture,  this  Is  no  doubt  a 
libel  on  these  beautiful  flowering  plants.  But  the  Impression 
induced  Llnnxus  to  give  the  name  to  this  genus,  and  from  it 
also  comes  the  English  name  of  Lousewort,  wort  being  an  old 
Saxon  name  for  "  plant."  Americans,  however,  follow  Dr.  Gray 
in  calling  the  plant  "  Wood-Betony,"  the  "  Betony  "  being  from 
some  resemblance  to  an  English  wild  flower  of  that  name. 

The  young  botanist  who  attempts  to  dry  plants  is  generally 
astonished  that,  with  all  his  care,  this  one,  admired  so  much  in 
life,  defies  all  efforts  to  preserve  Its  colors  well.  It  turns  black 
under  the  best  of  care. 

Some  poets  refer  to  the  Betony  in  connection  with  "surprising 
situations  or  circumstances."  This  scarcely  has  reference  to  our 
plant ;  but  if  it  had,  the  association  would  be  not  inappropriate. 
It  is  a  matter  of  "  surprise  "  that  a  flower  so  beautiful  should 
have  received  so  little  poetic  attention.  Shakespeare,  whose 
genius   for   observation   was   so   universal,   wholly  overlooks  it. 


PEDICULARIS    CANADENSIS. COMMON    WOOD-BETONY.  63 

Perhaps  the  European  species  does  not  strike  the  observer  so 
favorably  as  ours  strikes  us.  On  the  Wissahickon,  near  Phila- 
delphia, there  are  rolling  banks  in  the  deep  shade  of  woods 
completely  moss-grown,  among  which  the  trailing  arbutus  or 
Epigcca  finds  a  welcome  home.  In  the  earliest  spring  the  young 
go  out  to  seek  these  beautiful  flowers,  and  they  have  hardly 
gathered  the  last  when  our  Pedicularis  is  ready  for  the  floral 
harvest. 

Perhaps,  after  all,  it  is  often  accident,  more  than  actual  worth, 
which  brings  some  flower  popularly  forward.    As  Young  says,  — 

"  But  own  I  must,  in  this  perverted  age 
Who  most  deserve  can't  always  most  engage  ; 
So  far  is  worth  from  making  glory  sure, 
It  often  hinders  what  it  should  procure." 

We  have  taken  for  our  picture  only  a  single  branch  from 
the  root-stock.  It  is  not  uncommon  to  find  a  dozen  or  more 
in  an  old  plant,  all  in  bloom  at  the  same  time. 

The  way  in  which  it  pushes  up  and  forms  its  flower-stems  is 
interesting  to  the  morphological  student.  When  the  flower-stem 
starts  to  grow,  another  set  of  buds  begins  to  prepare  for  the  next 
year.  These  buds  proceed  with  their  development  at  the  side 
of  those  w^hich  are  now  making  the  flower  shoot.  The  new 
buds  form  a  tuft  of  a  dozen  leaves  or  so,  and  remain  in  that 
condition  till  the  next  spring,  when  they  also  throw  up  a  flower 
shoot.  Now  this  little  tuft  of  a  dozen  leaves  is  really  the  equiv- 
alent of  a  branch.  We  must  imagine  a  branch  with  a  dozen 
leaves  on  it,  spread  apart  so  as  to  have  an  inch  or  two  of  space 
between  each  one.  Then  imagine  this  branch  drawn  in,  as  we 
draw  in  the  circles  of  a  coil  of  wire,  and  we  have  just  the  idea 
of  these  tufts  of  leaves.  Now  when  the  plant  begins  to  flower, 
the  spiral  is  drawn  out,  the  leaves  are  scattered  on  the  stem,  and 
the  head  is  borne  upwards ;  but  w^hen  the  true  flowering  time 
is  reached,  we  see  that  there  is  a  sudden  stoppage  of  this  elon- 
gating  growth,  and  we  have  a  whole  coil  of  bracts,  but  little 


64  PEDICULARTS    CANADENSIS. COMMON    WOOD-BETONY. 

altered  from  true  leaves,  forming  a  verticil  under  the  spike  of 
flowers.  We  see  by  this  that  the  leaves  had  been  j^retty  well 
developed  before  the  drawing  in  of  the  spiral  coil  commenced, 
and  the  lesson  taught  us  by  our  flowxr  is  therefore  this,  —  tliat 
the  matter  of  time  in  the  acceleration  and  retardation  of  develop- 
ment is  the  main  cause  of  many  of  the  varied  forms  found  in 
vegetation.  When  the  accelerated  motion  precedes  leaf  devel- 
opment, as  in  many  plants  it  does,  there  may  be  but  very  small 
bracts,  or  even  no  bracts  at  all.  In  most  other  species  of  PediciL- 
laris  the  development  is  regular,  and  the  involucral-like  circle 
of  bracteal  leaves  does  not  exist. 

A  further  lesson  we  may  gather  from  the  flowers.  The 
bracts  —  the  small  leaflets  amono:  the  flowers  —  are  changed 
leaves,  and  the  flowers  which  spring  from  the  axils  are  analogous 
to  the  branches  which  spring  from  the  axillary  bud  at  the  base 
of  the  perfect  leaf.  A  flower  is,  therefore,  a  modified  brancli,  as 
the  bract  is  a  modified  leaf.  In  many  flowers  we  can  trace  the 
relations  of  the  floral  parts  to  leaves  and  branches ;  but  in 
this  the  arrestation  has  been  so  severe  that  we  lose  all  resem- 
blances in  the  flower,  and  we  cannot  tell  whether  the  corolla  is 
made  up  of  a  single  leaf  or  several.  The  attention  of  the  stu- 
dent is  directed  to  this  point  because  here  will  ultimately  be 
found  the  full  explanation  of  the  reason  why  flowers  are  some- 
times of  very  peculiar  forms. 

Generally,  we  can  tell  what  form  the  seed-vessel  will  assume 
before  the  petals  or  the  corolla  fade ;  but  in  this  Pcdicidaj^is,  the 
capsule  continues  to  grow,  and  ultimately  assumes  a  sword-like 
beak,  projecting  beyond  the  calyx.  (See  Fig.  2.)  When  mature, 
it  opens  by  a  slit  on  tlie  upper  side  through  which  the  ripe 
seeds  escape.  Altogether  it  is  a  very  interesting  plant  to  study, 
as  well  as  a  pretty  ol^ject  to  look  at  for  those  who  wish  to  enjoy 
only  the  external  beauty  of  nature. 


Explanation  ok  tiik  Plate.  —  i.    A  single  branch  fro:n  a  root-stock.  —  2.    Calyx  and  mature 
seed-vessel. 


/ 


Vc 


r  i-.rv 


A  T  P 


Erythronium  Americanum. 

L .  PFCPjtG  &  CoMPAK\',  Boston 


ERYTHRONIUM   AMERICANUM. 


YELLOW    DOG-TOOTH    VIOLET. 


NATURAL   ORDER,    LILIACE/E. 


Erytiironium  Americanum,  Smith.  —  Leaves  elliptical-lanceolate,  pale  green,  mottled,  and 
commonly  dotted  with  purplish  and  whitish;  perianth  light  yellow,  often  spotted  near 
the  base;  style  club-shaped;  stigmas  united  into  one.  Scape  six  to  nine  inches  high; 
flowers  one  inch  or  more  long.  (Asa  Gray,  Manual  of  Botany  of  the  Northern  States. 
See  also  Chapman's  Flora  of  the  Southern  States,  and  Wood's  Class  Book.) 


HIS  is  one  of  our  earliest  flowers,  being  in  full  bloom  in 
Pennsylvania  the  end  of  April  and  beginning  of  May, 
and  earlier  or  later  in  Southern  or  Northern  States.  On  this 
account  it  received  the  name  of  "  Yellow  Snowdrop  "  from  the 
earlier  settlers  in  Pennsylvania,  who  remembered  the  early- 
blooming  snowdrops  of  the  Old  World.  Many  other  common 
names  have  been  given  to  it,  but  "  Yellow  Snakeleaf "  prevailed 
generally  with  the  last  generation,  and  it  commonly  receives  this 
name  from  modern  writers  on  popular  botany.  The  name, 
however,  which  seems  most  in  use  at  the  present  time,  and 
which,  we  think,  will  prevail,  is  "  Yellow  Dog-tooth  Violet."  It 
varies  very  much  in  the  markings  of  the  leaves  in  some  locali- 
ties. Sometimes  there  are  scarcely  any  spots ;  then  it  often  re- 
ceives the  name  of  "  Lamb's  Tongue."  The  name  "  Dog-tooth 
Violet "  is  derived  from  the  roots  of  the  single  European 
species,  Erytiironium  Dens  Cants,  which  is  literally  Dogs-tooth 
Erythroninm.  So  great  is  the  resemblance  to  the  canine  teeth 
of  the  great  friend  of  man,  that  the  roots  seem  to  have  had  this 
name  among  all  the  old  nations  of  Europe  long  before  it  was 

65 


66      ERYTHRONIUM    AMERICANUM. YELLOW    DOG-TOOTH    VIOLET. 

adopted    by  science,   and   indeed    long   before   plants   had   any 
botanical  names  at  all. 

The  resemblance  to  the  violet  is  rather  imaginary;  but 
as  the  European  form,  usually  white,  is  often  purple  in  Italy, 
and  blooms  about  the  same  time  with  the  violet,  the  j^opular 
name  would  at  least  seem  to  be  explicable.  The  name  of  the 
genus  is  not  so  well  traced.  Dr.  Gray  says,  ''Erythronmm 
is  from  Erythros,  Greek  for  '  red,'  which  is  inappropriate  as 
respects  the  American  species."  Prof.  Wood  seems  of  the  same 
opinion,  as  he  says  that  the  name  is  derived  from  "  the  color 
of  some  of  the  species."  But  none  of  the  European  varieties 
have  flowers  of  a  color  deep  enough  to  suggest  such  a  name. 
Dr.  Darlington  believes  that  the  name  was  from  "  the  purple 
stains  on  the  leaves."  Botanists  do  not  always  give  the  reasons 
for  their  names,  and  we  are  left  to  guess  at  them.  The  earlier 
ones  delighted  in  adopting  ancient  appellations.  Erythronium 
occurs  in  Pliny  and  Dioscorides,  and  some  of  the  older  botanists 
thought  it  had  reference  to  this  plant,  and  so  retained  it,  though 
the  plant  referred  to  by  these  ancient  writers  was  evidently 
used  in  dyeing,  which  the  Dog-tooth  Violet  could  not  be.  The 
family  has,  however,  some  use  in  human  economy.  The  pow- 
dered root  of  the  European  species  was  once  used,  with  milk, 
for  intestinal  worms  in  children.  The  root  is  rather  acrid 
when  fresh,  but  becomes  mealy  when  dry.  Rafinesque  says 
fresh  roots  and  leaves,  stewed  in  milk,  make  a  rapidly  healing 
application  to  scrofulous  sores.  Dried  bulbs,  however,  lose  this 
virtue.  Porcher,  the  most  recent  American  author  on  the 
medical  properties  of  plants,  says  the  bulbs  are  emetic  when 
powdered,  and  given  in  doses  of  twenty  to  forty  grains. 

The  Yellow  Dog-tooth  Violet  is  found  in  damp,  shaded 
woods  in,  we  believe,  all  the  Atlantic  States,  and  westward 
as  far  as  the  Mississippi,  beyond  which  it  gives  place  to  other 
species.  The  order  to  which  it  belongs  is  very  small,  consisting 
of  perhaps  not  over  half  a  dozen  individuals,  even  if  we  include 
the  marked  varieties.     Its  nearest  ally  in  our  country  is  Liliitm  ; 


ERYTHRONIUM    AMERICANUM. YELLOW    DOG-TOOTH    VIOLET.     67 

the  pistil,  however,  is  not  three-cleft  as  in  the  lilies,  but  the 
lobes  are  united,  forming  a  club-shaped  pistil,  as  shown  in  our 
plate,  and  it  also  differs  in  other  characteristics.  A  nearer 
relation  exists  between  it  and  the  common  garden  tulip,  which 
has,  however,  a  bell-shaped  flower-cup,  and  a  sessile,  three-parted 
stigma.  At  night  our  flowers  close,  opening  somewhat  as  the 
day  advances,  but  on  warm,  sunshiny  days  they  recurve  as 
completely  as  the  "  Turk's-cap  Lilies." 

There  are,  no  doubt,  many  Interesting  facts  in  the  llfe-hls- 
tories  of  the  Yellow  Dog-tooth  Violet  which  yet  remain  to  be 
recorded.  In  some  localities,  as  already  noted,  the  leaves  are 
not  spotted  as  In  other  cases.  In  these  instances  there  seems 
to  be  a  difference  in  the  disposition  to  produce  seeds,  as  if  the 
two  points  went  together.  Then  again  In  some  localities  there 
are  immense  numbers  of  small  roots  with  only  one  leaf,  and  but 
a  very  few  —  the  flowering  ones  —  with  two,  and  it  Is  not  known 
how  long  It  Is  before  a  seedling-plant  flowers.  In  the  tulip 
the  young  roots  do  not  flower  for  several  years,  and  it  may 
be  the  same  with  this. 

It  bears  culture  very  well,  provided  It  be  grown  in  a  partially 
shaded  place;  and  no  doubt,  with  attention,  as  many  varieties 
might  be  raised  as  have  been  produced  In  the  tulip. 

Though  so  old  a  plant  in  history,  the  poets  seem  to  have 
overlooked  it,  its  companion,  the  violet,  having  evidently  had 
superior  charms  for  them.  But  as  we  have  not  the  tulip  with 
us,  and  the  genus  Is  allied  to  it  botanlcally,  what  the  poets  have 
said  of  the  one  may  without  much  violence  be  transferred  to  the 
other.  Holland  makes  the  tulip  reflect  on  its  own  merits,  In 
contrast  with  other  floral  favorites,  as  follows :  — 


"  How  vain  are  the  struggles  for  conquest  and  power 
With  golden  bud  and  scented  flower, 
Who  claim,  from  Iheir  beauty  or  fragrance  alone, 
Their  right  to  ascend  the  garden  throne  ! 
A  graceful  form  may  please  the  sight, 
And  fragrant  odor  the  senses  delight ; 


68      ERYTHRONIUM    AMERICANUM. YELLOW    DOG-TOOTH    VIOLET, 

Yet  if  we  are  judged  by  our  merit,  I  ween 

The  Tulip  will  soon  be  the  Garden  Queen ; 

No  envy  I  fear,  nor  of  beauty  the  frown. 

While  the  worth  of  the  Tulip  can  purchase  the  crown. 

"  How  can  the  vain  Rose  ever  hope  to  claim, 
By  the  verse  of  the  poet,  the  bright  meed  of  fame  ? 
Or  the  pale-featured  Lily  pretend  to  enhance 
Her  right,  as  the  flower  most  favor'd  of  France  ? 
No  favors  I  boast,  though  in  beauty  I  shine, 
And  variety's  garb,  ever  charming,  is  mine  ; 
But  my  triumph  I  rest  upon  merit  alone. 
For  worth  is  e'er  valued  when  beauty  is  flown. 
Then  why  should  I  fear  either  anger  or  frown. 
While  the  worth  of  the  Tulip  will  merit  the  crown? " 

The  only  incongruity  in  the  appHcation  of  these  Hnes  to  our 
plant  is  in  the  line,  — 

"And  variety's  garb,  ever  charming,  is  mine." 

But,  as  already  remarked,  there  is  little  doubt,  if  zealous  im- 
provers would  take  it  in  hand,  this  boasted  charm  would  be  our 
plant's  as  well.  The  original  tulip  of  Europe  {Tulipa  sylvestris) 
is  a  simple  yellow  flower,  a  little  larger,  but  scarcely  so  showy 
as  this  lovely  spring  flower  of  our  woods. 


Explanation  of  the  Plate.  —  i.  Whole  plant  with  bulb  deep  in  the  ground.  —  2.  Side 
view  of  flower,  with  relative  length  of  pistil  and  stamens.  —  3.  Recurved  petals  as  often 
seen  at  mid-day.  —  4.     Capsule  soon  after  the  petals  have  fallen. 


M 


'.U     S 


1-4       i-^ 


:x: 


PHLOX    SUBULATA. 

MOSS-PINK. 

NATURAL    ORDER,    POLEMONIACETR. 

Phlox  subulata,  Linnaeus.  —  Stems  prostrate,  twelve  or  more  inches  long,  with  numerous 
assurgent  branches  two  to  four  inches  high ;  leaves  subulate,  linear,  rigid,  about  half  an 
inch  long,  cuspidate,  crowded,  with  axillary  clusters  of  smaller  ones ;  corymbs  three  to 
six  flowered ;  corolla  pink  purple,  with  a  dark-purple  centre,  the  tube  about  half  an  inch 
long,  a  little  curved ;  flowers  sometimes  white.  (Darlington's  Flora  Cestrica.  See  also 
Gray's  Manual  of  Botany  and  Chapman's  Flora  of  the  Southern  States.) 

HE  Phlox  is  an  American  genus  of  plants,  but  was  one 
of  the  earliest  to  obtain  an  introduction  to  the  botanists 
of  Europe.  Plukenet,  a  writer  before  the  time  of  Linn^us, 
published  a  work  in  London,  in  1 691,  in  which  he  describes  it, 
making  it  out  to  be  a  near  relation  to  the  Lychnis,  for  which 
reason  he  called  it  Lychnidea.  The  Lychnis  belongs  to  the  Pink 
family,  or,  as  we  say,  Caryophyllacccc,  and  there  is  much  outward 
resemblance  of  the  Phlox  to  it,  especially  in  the  seed-vessel; 
but  on  examination,  we  see  that,  while  the  Pinks  have  numerous 
seeds  in  a  cell,  the  Phloxes  have  but  a  single  seed.  Besides 
this,  the  Pinks  have  a  corolla  made  up  of  several  distinct  petals, 
while  the  Phloxes  have  but  a  single  or  monopetalous  corolla, 
although  divided  into  five  deep  segments.  When  Linnceus 
remodelled  botany,  he  generally  retained  the  old  designations 
if  they  did  not  conflict  with  the  requirements  of  his  system,  but 
Lynchiiidea  was  one  of  the  names  which  had  to  give  way.  In 
the  first  place,  the  name  implied  a  close  relationship  to  Lychnis, 
which  the  plant  did  not  have,  and  thus  would  mislead.  Its 
form,  moreover,  was  that  of  an  adjective  rather  than  of  a  sub- 
stantive, and  the  system  of  Linnaeus  called  for  an  adjective  in 


70  PHLOX    SUBULATA. MOSS-PINK. 

addition  to  the  substantive.  But  as  Lychnis  ("  lychnos  ")  is  the 
Greek  word  for  "lamp,"  Linnaeus  changed  the  name  of  the 
genus  to  "  Phlox,"  which  means  "  flame,"  and  in  this  metaphori- 
cal way  still  retained  a  connection  with  the  original  name  of 
Plukenet.  The  relationship  of  the  PJiloxes  is  not  with  Caryo- 
phyllace^,  but  with  Greek  Valerians,  with  which,  and  some 
others,  they  form  the  natural  order,  Polemoniacea:,  of  which  there 
are  numerous  representatives  in  various  genera  on  the  American 
continent.  As  the  PJiloxes  are  strikingly  different  in  appearance 
from  most  of  the  plants  which  were  cultivated  in  Europe  at  the 
end  of  the  seventeenth  century,  their  introduction  must  have 
been  a  rare  treat  to  lovers  of  gardening.  The  tall  forms  of 
Phlox^  especially  P,  Carolijia^  found  their  way  into  the  gardens 
about  1720;  and  Peter  Collinson,  that  rare  lover  of  American 
wild  flowers,  boasted  of  several  others  a  few  years  later.  In  a 
letter  to  John  Bartram  in  1765,  he  refers  with  pride  to  them, 
and  remarks,  "  It  is  wonderful  to  see  the  fertility  of  your  coun- 
try in  Phloxes^  He  would  have  wondered  more  if  he  had  seen 
the  beauty  of  the  many  which  have  been  discovered  since  his 
time.  Even  the  one  we  now  illustrate  was,  probably,  unknown 
to  him,  as  it  was  not  till  1 786  that  it  seems  to  have  been  intro- 
duced into  England  by  John  Frazer. 

But  beautiful  as  this  species  is  in  gardens,  no  one  can  have 
any  conception  of  its  grandeur  when  seen  in  some  of  the  wild 
places  where  it  finds  itself  perfectly  at  home.  Dr.  Darlington, 
in  his  Flo7'-a  Cestrlca,  remarks,  "  This  species  is  chiefly  confined 
to  the  Serpentine  Rock  (in  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania),  and 
when  it  is  in  full  bloom,  the  hills,  at  a  distance,  apppear  as  if 
covered  with  a  sheet  of  flame."  The  writer  of  this  has  noticed 
the  same  lurid  appearance  of  the  hills  from  the  flowering  plants 
along  the  line  of  the  Schuylkill  River,  as,  no  doubt,  have  other 
observers  in  other  places.  It  is  one  of  the  earliest  of  all  plants 
to  flower  in  this  region.  If  the  autumn  be  mild,  as  in  Pennsyl- 
vania it  often  is,  flowers  may  be  seen  as  late  as  in  November, 
while  it  is  not  unusual,  after  a  few  mild  days   in  the  spring,  to 


PHLOX    SUBULATA. MOSS-PINK.  7  I 

find  some  which  seem  to  have  opened  under  the  snow,  hke  cer- 
tain kinds  of  plants  in  the  Alps  of  Europe,  which,  according  to 
Kerner,  blossom  under  similar  circumstances. 

Many  Phloxes  die  completely  back  to  the  ground,  but  this 
one  trails  or  creeps  along  on  the  surface,  keeping  its  leaves  as 
green  as  moss,  and  indeed,  from  this  character,  has  obtained  the 
name  of  "  Moss-Pink."  It  is  also  called  "  Mountain-Pink  "  and 
"  Ground-Pink  " ;  but  the  two  last  names  are,  perhaps,  used  only 
by  those  "  who  gather  wild  flowers,"  for  the  commonest  garden 
name  is  "  Moss- Pink."  The  "  Moss  "  is  appropriate  enough. 
"  Pink,"  however,  does  not  properly  belong  to  this  genus,  but  to 
Diaiithus,  or  that  family  to  which  the  Carnation  belongs.  It  is, 
doubtless,  one  of  the  true   Pinks  to  which  Wordsworth  refers 

when  he  says,  — 

"  The  wild  pink  crowns  the  garden  wall, 
And  with  the  flowers  are  intermingled  stones, 
Sparry  and  bright,  rough  scattering  on  the  hills." 

At  any  rate,  Wordsworth's  plant  is  not  a  Phlox,  as  this  does 
not  grow  wild  in  Europe  ;  but  our  Moss-Pink  grows  in  our 
country  under  such  similar  circumstances,  and  the  flower  itself 
is  so  like  to  the  real  pink  of  the  poet,  that  the  quotation  seems 
to  be  quite  appropriate.  All  throughout  the  New  England 
States  it  delights  to  grow  on  rocky  hillsides ;  but  as  it  wanders 
south,  according  to  Chapman,  it  takes  to  low,  sandy  places.  It 
is  found  wild  in  all  the  States  south  of  New  York  to  Florida, 
and  west  to  Michigan  and  Mississippi.  In  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains and  thence  westward,  its  place  is  taken  by  other  csespitose 
forms  which  are  indirectly  allied  to  it.  One  species  some- 
what similar  also  occurs  in  Siberia,  and  this  is  the  only  one 
found  outside  of  the  United  States. 

Writers  on  medicine  have  nothing  to  say  about  the  Moss- 
Pink,  but  it  has  succeeded  in  attracting  the  attention  of  philoso- 
phers, for  Mr.  Darwin  gives  it  a  special  notice  in  his  "  Forms  of 
Flowers."  Dr.  Gray  had  noticed  that  the  plant  was  heterostyled; 
that  is  to  say,  had  the  pistils  in  some  plants  shorter  than  in  others. 


72  PHLOX    SUBULATA. MOSS-PINK. 

In  olden  times,  when  these  points  were  not  understood  as  they  are 
now,  this  short-styled  character  was  thought  sufficient  to  build 
another  species  on;  and  hence  Nuttall  made  one  as  P.  Hentzii^ 
in  which  this  was  the  chief  distinction.  It  shows  how  sfreat  has 
been  the  progress  of  botany  even  since  Nuttall's  time,  when  we 
see  that  what  are  now  known  to  be  little  more  than  sexual  differ- 
ences, were  then  taken  to  be  essential,  specific  characters.  It  is 
this  peculiar  variation  in  the  length  of  the  pistil  that  has  been 
noticed  by  Mr.  Darwin.  Generally,  he  found  the  pollen  grains 
different  in  size  in  heterostyled  plants;  but  in  this  species  he 
found  no  difference,  or,  rather,  both  large  and  small  grains  are 
found  on  each  form,  and  this  he  regards  as  very  remarkable. 
He  concludes  his  notice  of  this  jDhenomenon  by  suggesting 
that  "  possibly  this  species  was  once  heterostyled,  but  is  now 
becoming  sub-dioecious,  the  short-styled  plants  having  been 
rendered  more  feminine  in  nature.  This  would  account  for  the 
ovaries  having  more  ovules  (two  instead  of  one),  and  for  the 
variable  condition  of  their  pollen  grains.  Whether  the  long- 
styled  plants  are  now  changing  their  nature,  as  would  appear  to 
be  the  case  from  the  variability  of  their  pollen  grains,  and  are 
becoming  more  masculine,  I  will  not  pretend  to  conjecture." 
Still,  the  bare  suggestion  will  have  an  interest  to  those  who  are 
studying  what  are  known  as  the  facts  of  evolution.  Mr.  Darwin 
has  evidently  a  deeper  interest  in  our  little  plant,  in  this  con- 
nection, than  his  expression,  "  I  will  not  pretend  to  conjecture," 
implies ;  for  in  another  part  of  his  work,  he  says,  "  Certain 
appearances  countenance  the  belief  that  the  reproductive  sys- 
tem of  Phlox  subulata  is  undergoing  a  change  of  some  kind." 
The  extracts  show  with  what  interest  our  Moss-Pink  is  being 
regarded  in  science. 

To  the  florist  the  Moss-Pink  offers  some  attractions.  It 
is  not  only  of  easy  culture,  but  is  extremely  variable  in  nature, 
both  in  color  and  form.  We  give  some  variations  on  our  plate ; 
but  there  are  changes  in  form  as  well  as  in  color. 


T    r 


Plate    19. 


OAAiir 


.KAGA  YlRGINIENSIS. 


I  .     I'rJ-Si   J    '■■    wOM.-A 


SAXIFRAGA   VIRGINIENSIS. 

EARLY   WHITE   SAXIFRAGE. 

NATURAL   ORDER,   SAXIFRAGACE/E. 

Saxifraga  ViKGiNiENSTS,  Michaux.  —  Low,  four  to  nine  inches  high;  leaves  ovate  or  oval 
spatulate,  narrowed  into  a  broad  petiole,  crenate-toothed,  thickish  ;  flowers  in  a  clustered 
cyme,  which  is  at  length  open  and  loosely  panicled;  lobes  of  the  nearly  free  calyx  erect, 
not  half  the  length  of  the  oblong,  obtuse  white  petals ;  pods  two,  united  merely  at  the 
base,  divergent,  purplish.  (Gray's  Maintal.  See  also  Wood's  Chus-Book,  Chapman's 
Flora  of  the  Southern  Stales,  Botany  of  California,  etc.) 

HE  names  of  plants,  if  literally  taken,  would  often  mis- 
lead. Michaux,  one  of  our  early  botanists,  finding  this 
plant  abundant  in  Virginia,  gave  it  the  distinctive  name  of 
Virgiiiic7isis ;  but  it  is  distributed  over  the  whole  American 
continent,  and  is  much  more  common  as  we  go  north  of  Vir- 
ginia. It  is  found  in  Canada  and  as  far  south  as  Georgia,  in 
the  Rocky  Mountains  and  in  the  Sierra  and  Coast  Ranges; 
and  if  we  accept  the  suggestion  of  some  botanists  that  it  is 
scarcely  different  from  Saxifraga  nivalis,  we  may  say  that  it 
runs  far  away  up  into  the  Arctic  regions,  which  is  a  remarkable 
geographical  range  for  a  plant  with  no  special  organs  adapted 
to  aid  distribution,  and  to  which  cultivation  and  man's  work  in 
o^eneral  are  enemies. 

The  Saxifrages  are  mostly  Alpine  or  high  northern  plants, 
and  form  a  genus  of  some  one  hundred  and  fifty  representa- 
tives. Only  a  few  of  them  are  found  in  the  Atlantic  States, 
and  the  species  we  now  describe  is  perhaps  the  most  southern 
of  all.     It  is  amoncr  the  earliest  in  bloom  of  our  wild  flowers, 

O 

being  often  open  in  Pennsylvania  by  the  middle  of  April.  It 
grows  in  shaded  woods  or  in  stony  i)laces,  and  particularly 
delights  in  getting  into  the  clefts  of  rocks.     The  gCHcric  name 


74  SAXIFRAGA   VIRGINIENSIS. EARLY    WHITE    SAXIFRAGE. 

given  to  the  plant  —  Saxifraga  —  is  from  the  Latin,  signifying 
''  to  break  a  rock,"  and  owes  its  origin  to  the  fact  that  some  of 
the  species  grow  in  rocky  crevices,  as  we  have  described  this 
one  to  do.  The  common  name  of  the  family  in  Germany  is 
"  Stonebreak,"  but  we  have  become  so  familiar  with  the  Angli- 
cized Latin  Saxifrage  that  it  has  entered  into  our  popular 
botanical  language.  Our  species  is  known  among  lovers  of 
wild  flowers  as  the  "  Early  Saxifrage,"  which,  for  Pennsylvania 
and  thereabouts,  is  distinction  enough. 

It  is  remarkable  that  so  large  and  so  well-known  a  family  of 
plants  should  have  proved  of  so  little  importance  to  man. 
None  of  the  Saxifrages  seem  to  have  excited  poetic  fire,  nor 
have  they  entered  in  any  way  into  the  arts.  Our  present  species 
is,  however,  deserving  of  some  notice  for  its  expressive  beauty. 
Rocks  are  occasionally  met  with  so  rugged  and  bare  that  there 
seems  no  chance  for  any  living  thing  beyond  mosses  and  lich- 
ens to  find  a  place  for  existence  on  them.  Scarcely  a  moss  may 
be  seen  on  their  whole  surface  ;  yet  if  there  be  a  ledge  or 
crevice,  and  it  be  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Early  Saxifrage,  the 
rock  will  be  found  dotted  with  it.  Our  specimen  was  gathered 
near  Germantown,  Pa.,  under  just  these  circumstances  there 
seemed  nothing  but  this  plant  growing  there.  In  early  spring, 
before  the  flower-stems  have  started  into  growth,  there  are  few 
prettier  sights  than  a  rock  sprinkled  with  these  little  green 
plants. 

The  plant  itself  affords  a  good  study  for  the  ornamental 
artist.  Before  it  flowers  it  forms  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
rosettes  imaginable.  The  outline  is  a  perfect  circle,  and  the 
spoon-like  leaves,  regularly  notched  and  as  regularly  disposed 
around  their  common  centre,  give  as  much  variety  to  the 
otherwise  geometrical  form  as  one  can  desire,  while  the  little 
central  flower-bud,  just  ready  to  push,  makes  an  excellent  termi- 
nation to  the  whole.  For  the  central  ornament  in  a  piece  of 
carving,  it  would  furnish  an  admirable  pattern,  or  in  any  case 
where  a  starting-point  of  regular  and  yet  varied  form  is  desira- 


SAXIFRAGA    VIRGINIENSIS. EARLY    WHITE    SAXIFRAGE.  75 

blc.  As  soon  as  the  flower-shoots  grow,  the  lower  leaves  begin 
to  fade  and  lose  their  regular  form ;  but  with  the  warm  weather, 
another  attractive  feature  is  developed.  The  green  of  the 
leaves  becomes  prettily  tinted  with  rose,  and  at  this  stage 
the  plant  is  in  nice  condition  for  the  artist,  to  whom  these 
departing  shades  in  the  sunset  of  plant-life  are  always  welcome. 
The  flowers  are  not  showy  by  any  means,  being  small  and 
colorless  ;  but  as  soon  as  the  petals  begin  to  fade,  the  carpels 
take  on  a  deep  shade  of  brown,  which,  as  we  see  in  our  plate, 
produces  a  very  pretty  effect.  Many  other  members  of  the 
family  have  good  points  similar  to  those  we  find  in  the  Early 
Saxifrage. 

Our  plant  does  not  do  as  well  on  dry  rocks  as  on  those  on 
which  there  is  some  moisture,  and  it  assumes  its  handsomest 
form  in  shaded  places.  When  the  rock  has  been  disintegrated 
and  the  remains  collect  to  some  depth  in  favorable  places,  the 
Early  Saxifrage  is  in  its  glory,  and  will  make  plants  three  or 
four  times  larger  than  the  one  illustrated  here. 

Some  of  the  species  have  astringent  or  aromatic  roots,  out  of 
which  something  useful  might  be  made,  and  in  old  times  one  of 
them  was  thought  to  be  a  good  diuretic.  None  have  entered  into 
any  of  the  great  scientific  questions  of  the  day  to  any  material 
extent,  but  they  have  a  use  in  preparing  the  bare  rocks  for  better 
things.  The  mosses  and  lichens  collect  dust  on  the  rocks,  and 
add  to  this  matter  by  their  own  decomposition,  and  the  Saxi- 
frages follow,  doing  much  better  work  after  they  have  once 
established  themselves.  In  this  way,  little  by  little,  a  surface  of 
earth  is  accumulated  on  the  rocks  ;  then  the  rain  or  melting 
snow,  with  the  frost,  get  a  chance  to  operate ;  and  finally,  in  the 
course  of  time,  a  soil  is  produced  that  will  grow  anything. 
But  this  may  not  be  the  only  service  which  these  plants  are 
capable  of  doing  to  man.  It  is  well  to  note  that  our  knowledge 
of  the  u-:es  of  things  has  progressed  amazingly  of  late  years, 
and  it  is  more  than  probable  that  this  very  extensive  family 
still  holds  secrets  which  will  only  be  exposed  to  future  genera- 


76  SAXIFRAGA    VIRGINIENSIS. EARLY    WHITE    SAXIFRAGE. 

tions.     Nature  does  not  tell  us  all  she  knows  at  once,  but  deals 
it  out  in  small  portions  at  a  time. 

The  Early  Saxifrage  bears  cultivation  very  well,  if  not  planted 
in  too  hot  a  place,  or  where  the  water  stands.  It  can  easily  be 
increased  by  dividing  the  roots.  As  of  many  other  species, 
double  forms  may  also  occasionally  be  found  of  this.  In  one 
of  the  early  volumes  of  the  "  Naturalist,"  such  a  double  form  is 
referred  to  as  having  been  found  in  Pennsylvania,  and  in  the 
volume  for  1877  it  is  noticed  that  another  of  the  same  kind 
was  found.  This  last  is  now  under  cultivation  by  Mr.  Jackson 
Dawson,  the  chief  gardener  of  the  Arnold  Arboretum,  at  Boston. 


ARCTOSTAPH  YLOS     U  VA-U  RSI. 

BEAR-BERRY. 

NATURAL    ORDER,    ERICACEAE. 

Arctostaphylos  Uva-ursi,  Sprengcl.  —  Corolla  ovate  and  urn-shaped,  with  a  short,  revolute. 
five-toothed  liml);  stamens  ten,  included  within  the  corolla;  anthers  with  two  reflexed 
awns  on  the  back  near  the  apex,  opening  by  terminal  pores;  drupe  berry-like,  with  five  to 
ten  seed-like  nutlets.  Specific  character.  —  Trailing;  leaves  thick  and  evergreen,  obovate 
or  spatulate,  entire,  smooth  ;  fruit  red.  (Dr.  Gray  in  Manual  of  Botany.  See  also  Wood's 
Class  Bool.' ;  Watson's  Botany  ifi  ^oth  Parallel ;  Botany  of  California  Geological  Sur-jcy.) 

HIS  pretty  spring  flower  is  popularly  called  the  "  Bear- 
Berry."  As  such  it  was  known  all  over  Northern  Europe, 
where  it  also  grows  wild,  long  before  botany  was  a  science  and 
Linn^us,  the  great  botanical  "  Adam,"  gave  intelligent  names  to 
vegetable  things.  Thus  it  came  that  its  generic  name,  Arcto- 
staphylos, compounded  from  the  Greek,  and  signifying  "  Bear 
Berry,"  is  derived  from  the  common  name,  as  also  is  the  Latin 
specific  term  Uva-ursi.  It  is  remarkable  that  the  generic,  spe- 
cific, and  common  names,  though  representing  three  languages, 
all  mean  the  same  thine,  —  a  circumstance  that  docs  not  often 
occur  in  botanical  nomenclature.  The  plant  received  the  name 
because  the  bears  are  said  to  be  fond  of  the  fruit,  and  the  writer 
of  this  has  had  evidence  in  the  mountains  of  Colorado  that  this 
fondness  is  not  a  myth.  Birds  are  also  fond  of  the  berries,  and  in 
Europe  especially  they  are  said  to  be  a  common  food  with  game. 
There  is  no  pleasant  taste  in  them  to  human  experience.  They 
arc  astringent,  and  this  quality  gives  medical  value  to  them  in 
treating  diseases  of  the  kidneys,  and  where  it  i.s  desirable  to 
check  excessive  secretions  of  mucus.  The  whole  plant,  indeed, 
partakes  somewhat  of  this  quality,  and  is  used  in   the  North  of 


78  ARCTOSTAPHYLCS    UVA-URSI. BEAR-BERRY. 

Europe  for  dyeing  gray  and  black,  and  for  tanning  the  finer 
kinds  of  leather. 

The  botanical  relationship  of  the  Bear -Berry  is  with  the  ^r- 
buhis,  from  which  it  is  distinguished  by  having  but  a  single  bony 
seed  in  a  cell.  Indeed  it  was  known  as  Arbutus  Uva-ursi  by 
the  older  botanists,  —  those  wlio  may  be  familiar  with  the  true 
Arbutus  \\A\\  readily  recognize  the  similarity  of  the  flowers, — 
and  it  is  almost  to  be  regretted  that  it  has  not  been  kept  in  thi^ 
genus  for  the  sake  of  the  many  poetic  associations  connected 
with  the  Arbutus  Uncdo,  which  has  given  the  popular  character 
to  the  family  name. 

"  Glowing  bright 
Beneath  the  various  foliage,  wildly  spreads 
The  arbutus,  and  rears  his  scarlet  fruit 
Luxuriant  mantling  o'er  the  craggy  steeps." 

This  description  of  the  true  straw  berry  tree,  "  Arbutus,"  cer- 
tainly fits  our  Bear- Berry  much  better  than  it  does  the  Epigcra 
repens,  to  w^hich  our  people,  determined  to  connect  our  flora  in 
some  way  with  European  memories,  have  given  the  name  of 
"  Trailing  Arbutus,"  although  it  has  no  berry  at  all.  The  Bear- 
Berry  has,  however,  an  association  with  Indian  history,  as  it  is  the 
"  Kinnikinnick  "  of  the  Western  races,  who  smoke  it,  and  believe 
the  practice  secures  them  from  malarial  fevers.  Still,  it  is  al- 
most a  pity  that  the  name  of  "  Trailing  Arbutus  "  has  been  given 
to  the  Epigcea  rcpms,  for,  as  the  Bear- Berry  is  so  nearly  an 
Arbutus,  and  of  a  perfectly  trailing  habit,  it  would  be  much  more 
applicable  to  it ;  but  perhaps,  if  flowers  have  the  affections  poets 
sometimes  attribute  to  them,  it  was  generous  in  this  plant  to 
give  up,  or  rather  lay  no  claim  to  the  name,  as  whatever  might 
be  its  own  legitimate  rights,  it  is  so  universally  known  as  the 
Bear-Berry  that  it  has  no  great  need  of  the  other.  The  ber- 
ries are  indeed  the  most  striking  feature  of  the  plant.  The 
chief  resemblance  to  the  real  Arbutus  is  in  its  beautiful  white, 
shinincr,  wax-like   flowers.     The   buds   are  formed  towards  the 


ARCTOSTAPHYLOS  UVA-URSI. BEAR-BERRY.         79 

apex  of  the  branchlets  in  the  autumn,  and  remain  in  readi- 
ness to  open  as  soon  as  the  earliest  call  of  spring  is  heard. 
Though  the  flowers  are  generally  of  a  smooth,  waxy  white,  they 
do  not  seem  constantly  so,  for  Mr.  Coleman  observes  that  the 
"  corolla  and  stamens  are  hairy,  in  specimens  growing  at  Grand 
Rapids  and  other  parts  of  Michigan,"  and  furthermore,  that  "  the 
margins  of  the  leaves  are  ciliate,  and  the  petioles  and  branches 
pubescent."  These  facts  are  very  interesting  as  indicating  that, 
although  the  plant  has  so  great  a  geographical  range  and  seems 
always  the  same,  it  may  break  up  in  the  course  of  time  and  form 
several  species. 

In  its  geographical  relations  there  is  much   to   interest  the 

student.      Dr.  Gray  says  it  is  found  trailing  over  rocks  and  bare 

hills  in  the  North,  and  this  is,  probably,  the  experience  of  most 

collectors.     In  New  Jersey,  however,  where  it  is  very  common, 

it  is  generally  found  growing  in  sandy  pine  barrens,  and  rarely, 

if  at  all,  on  the  hills.     In  Pennsylvania,  it  grows  chiefly  along 

the  Delaware,  opposite  to   New  Jersey,  and  in  spots  that  have 

evidently,   from    the   number    of    New   Jersey    plants    and    the 

o-eoloeical  character  of  the  soil,  been  cut  off  in  ancient  times 

from  what  is  now  that  State,  by  changes   in  the   river-bed.      In 

the  West,  it  is   also  found   on   the  sandy  shores  of  the  great 

lakes.     On  the  western  side  of  Lake   Michigan,  it  collects  the 

dry,  blowing  sands  in  winter,  and  the  new  growth  pushes  through 

in  spring,  in   this  way  increasing  in  size  from  year  to  year,  at 

length    forming    hillocks   of    many   feet   high.      The    effect    in 

spring,  when  these  hillocks  are  covered  with  blossoms,  must  be 

very  beautiful,  and  the  writer  of  this  can  testify  to   the   unique 

appearance   in  autumn  when   the  holly-like  berries  upon   them 

have   ripened.      The  Bear-Berry  does  not  seem   to  be  abundant 

in  Ohio,  but  has  been  found  by  Mr.  Beardslee   near  Sandusky. 

It  is  found  along  the   Potomac,  and  though  not  referred  to  by 

Chapman  in  his  "  Southern  Flora,"  is  reported  from  Hillsville,  in 

Virginia,    by   Dr.   Haller,    and,    no   doubt,    exists    much   further 

South. 


8o  ARCTOSTAPHYLOS    UVA-URSI. BEAR-BERRY. 

The  Bear- Berry  has  the  reputation  of  being  opposed  to 
garden  culture  ;  but,  borrowing  a  hint  from  Nature  along  the 
lakes,  a  frame  to  hold  sand  was  placed  around  the  plant  and 
filled  up  till  only  the  branch  points  were  left  above.  Since 
then  it  is  one  of  the  most  luxuriant  plants  in  the  writer's  garden. 
To  increase  the  plants,  the  young  stems  are  drawn  up  through 
the  hole  in  the  bottom  of  a  flower-pot,  the  pot  filled  and  sunk 
in  the  sand,  and  suffered  to  remain  without  further  care  for  a 
year  or  so,  when  they  are  separated  from-'the  parent  and  helped 
to  set  up  for  themselves  in  sand-boxes  in  the  garden. 

Mr.  E.  Hall  reports  that  the  plant  is  very  abundant  in  the 
coast  ranges  of  hills  in  Oregon,  and  is  generally  diffused  through 
the  State.  In  the  Rocky  Mountains  it  is  also  very  abundant, 
but,  according  to  the  writer's  own  observations,  chiefly  along 
the  hillsides,  where  a  considerable  quantity  of  disintegrated  rock 
had  accumulated. 

The  fondness  of  the  birds  for  the  berries  has,  no  doubt,  aided 
its  distribution,  for  it  is  found  in  tolerable  abundance  in  almost 
all  northern  countries,  in  the  language  of  the  "  Botany  of  the 
Californian  Geological  Survey,"  "  extending  round  the  world." 
Though  abundant  in  Oregon,  it  hardly  reaches  California,  how- 
ever, where  other  species  replace  it. 

The  flowers,  in  some  European  works,  are  represented  as  of 
a  rosy  pink,  but  all  that  we  have  seen  in  our  country  have 
simply  a  rosy  mouth  to  the  white,  waxy  corolla,  thus  really 
giving  it  greater  beauty  than  if  it  were  of  one  uniform  tint. 
Thoucjh  there  are  several  flowers  in  one  cluster,  we  have  never 
seen  more  than  one  berry  mature.  Why  the  remainder  are 
barren  is  not  quite  clear.  Our  drawing  was  made  from  a 
Michigan  specimen,  in  flower  on  the  26th  of  April,  showing 
how  early  it  comes  into  bloom. 


Plate 


'INIANA 


TEPHROSIA   VIRGINIANA. 

VIRGINIAN   GOAT'S-RUE;    HOARY    PEA. 

NATURAL  ORDER,  LEGUMINOS^. 

Tephrosia  Virginiana,  Persoon.  —  Erect,  villous;  leaflets  numerous,  oblong,  mucronate ; 
raceme  terminal,  subsessile  among  the  leaves ;  legume  falcate,  villous ;  perennial ;  plant 
I  to  2  feet  high;  stem  simple,  very  leafy ;  leaflets  15  to  27,  10  to  13  lines  by  2  to  3  lines, 
straight-veined,  odd  one  oblong-obcordate ;  petiolules  one  line  long;  stipules  subulate, 
deciduous;  flowers  as  large  as  those  of  the  locust,  in  a  short,  crowded  cluster;  calyx  very 
^rillous;  banner  white;  keel  rose-colored;  wings  red.  (Wood's  Class-Book  of  Botany. 
See  also  Gray's  Manual  of  the  Botany  of  the  Northern  United  States,  Chapman's  Flora  of 
the  Southern  United  States,  and  Torrey  &  Gray's  Flora  of  the  United  States.) 

O  those  who  Hve  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York  or  Phila- 
delphia,   New   Jersey    is    a    favorite   botanical    hunting- 
ground.     Our  plant  may  be  found  there  in  some  abundance  in 
the  drier  localities  during  June  and  July,  and  it  is  sure  to  excite 
admiration.     The  color  of  the  flower  is  not  brilliant,  but  it  is 
sufficient  to  attract  attention,  and  the  neatness  of  its  structure, 
with  the  somewhat  graceful  habit  of  the  foliage,  afford  pleasure 
to  those  who  are  artistically  inclined.     The  impression  the  plant 
gives  is  one  of  novelty,  for  it  has  more  of  the  character  of  plants 
from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  or  from  Australia,  as  we  see  them 
in  green-houses,  or  judge  of  them  from  herbarium  specimens, 
than  of  those  which  we  generally  see  in  the  Atlantic   United 
States.     Indeed,  species  of  Tcphrosia  abound  in  Southern  Africa 
and  the  East  Indies ;  and  speaking  of  plants  as  if  they  had  all 
wandered  from  a  central  point,  we  might  say  that  our  Tephrosias 
had   really  wandered  far  away  from  their  original  home.     We 
have  but  a  few  species  in  the  United  States,  but  there  are  some 
in  the  West  Indies  and  in  Mexico,  and  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  American  continent.     It  is  not  by  any  means  in  New  Jersey 


82       TEPHROSIA   VIRGINIANA. VIRGINIAN    GOATS-RUE;     HOARY    PEA. 

only  that  our  plant  is  found  in  abundance,  for  it  is  frequently 
met  with  in  wild,  uncultivated  places  from  Canada  to  Florida, 
west  to  the  Mississippi  River,  and  even  beyond,  in  Arkansas  and 
Texas,  to  some  extent.  It  varies,  however,  in  some  of  these  dis- 
tricts;  so  much,  indeed,  that  several  species  have  been  made  out' 
of  it.  The  leaves  change  somewhat  in  these  different  places, 
both  in  form  and  hairiness,  being  sometimes  nearly  smooth. 
The  color  of  the  flowers  is  also  darker  in  some  places  than  in 
others.  In  Michigan,  according  to  Mr.  N.  Coleman,  the  two 
outer  petals  are  almost  green. 

The  silky  appearance  of  the  leaves  of  some  of  the  earliest 
known  species  suggested  the  botanical  name  Tephrosia,  "  te- 
phros  "  being  Greek  for  "  ashen  gray,"  which  is  the  appearance 
these  silky-haired  leaves  present ;  our  species  exhibits  the  same 
characteristic,  almost  as  much  so  as  those  which  gave  the  family 
name.  In  the  time  of  Linneeus,  however,  it  was  not  known  as 
Tcphrosia,  but  2iS.Galega  Virgmiana,  under  which  name  it  must 
be  looked  for  in  the  earlier  botanical  works.  The  original 
Galcga  officmalis  has  been  left  almost  alone,  the  greater  part  of 
the  many  scores  of  species  which  once  formed  that  genus  being 
given  to  its  newer-born  rival,  Tephrosia,  chiefly  on  account  of 
their  flat  pods  or  seed-vessels,  for  the  original  Galcga  has  them 
almost  torulose  or  round.  Besides  this  the  vexillum  or  standard, 
as  the  upper  petal  is  called,  is  longer  in  Galega  than  in  Tephrosia. 

The  separation  from  Galcga  has  deprived  our  plant  of  much 
of  its  early  family  history,  for  G.  officinalis  was  the  common 
"  Goat's-Rue  "  of  the  early  writers.  Rue  itself  is  another  plant, 
and  was  used  by  the  old  monks  to  drive  away  evil  spirits  that, 
without  proper  reason,  insisted  on  bothering  mankind.  An 
old  writer  tells  us  that  these  Satanic  imps  held  in  utter  detesta- 
tion holy  water,  Rue,  and  some  other  things.  The  Galcga  was 
not  called  Goat's-Rue,  however,  because  it  served  goats  as  its 
namesake  served  evil  spirits  (as  many  persons  who  want  to  have 
gardens  where  others  want  goats  might  well  wish),  but  rather 
from  a  slio-ht  resemblance  in  the  leaves  to  the  true  Rue.     The 


TEPIIROSIA    VIRGINIANA. VIRGINIAN    GOATS-RUE  ;    HOARY    PEA.       83 

qualifying  term,  "  Goat's,"  was  added  because  goats  eat  it  with 
avidity  in  the  places  where  it  grows  naturally.  In  old  times 
the  ancient  Goat's-Rue  was  supposed  to  have  strong  cordial 
qualities,  and  perhaps  if  it  had,  the  goats,  borrowing  a  hint  from 
a  portion  of  mankind,  might  have  been  glad  of  a  little  stimulant 
to  a  naturally  festive  disposition.  Some  of  the  Tephrosias  have 
a  very  severe  character  of  this  sort,  and  are  used  to  intoxicate 
fish.  The  leaves  are  powdered  and  thrown  into  the  water,  and 
they  act  so  powerfully  on  the  fish  that  many  of  them  never 
recover,  but  die.  This  particular  species,  T.  toxicaria,  is  culti- 
vated in  the  West  Indies  especially  to  furnish  material  for  this 
form  of  fish  hunting.  Our  plant,  T.  Virginiana,  has  been  found 
to  have  some  of  the  virtues  ascribed  to  the  original  Galcga. 
Dr.  Wood  regarded  it  as  a  mild,  stimulating  tonic  and  laxative, 
and  used  it  with  good  results  in  typhoid  fever.  He  prepared  it 
by  mixing  eight  ounces  of  the  plant  with  two  of  Riimex  acutiis, 
or,  as  we  now  say,  R.  obloiigifolius,  the  Common  Field-Dock,  in 
four  quarts  of  water,  and  boiling  the  decoction  down  to  a  quart; 
after  straining  he  gave  it  in  doses  of  one  or  two  tablespoonfuls. 
When  the  Europeans  came  here,  they  found  it  a  popular  vermi- 
fuge with  the  Indians,  who  used  the  roots  in  that  capacity,  and 
our  people  regard  it  as  very  useful  still.  These  roots  are  very 
long,  travelling  a  great  way  under  ground,  and  are  so  tough  and 
wiry  that  they  have  procured  for  the  plant  the  name  of  "  Catgut," 
under  which  it  is  known  in  the  South,  in  allusion  to  the  similar 
toughness  of  violin  strings.  In  most  botanical  works,  however, 
it  has  retained  its  old  name  of  Goat's-Rue  (although  probably 
never  a  goat  in  America  ate  it),  and  as  Virginian  Goat's-Rue 
it  is  often  referred  to  in  popular  writings.  Dr.  Gray  and  some 
others  have  used  a  translation  of  the  botanical  name  for  a  com- 
mon one,  namely.  Hoary  Pea,  which  is  much  more  character- 
istic than  Goat's-Rue,  and  worthy  of  adoption.  This  would 
make  our  species  the  Virginian  Hoary  Pea,  and  all  we  can  say 
is  that  our  readers  have  a  choice  of  names.  Dr.  Peyre  Porcher 
tells  us  that  in  the  South  it  is  often  called  "  Turkey-Pea." 


84       TEPHROSIA  VIRGINIANA. VIRGINIAN    GOATS-RUE  ;    HOARY  PEA. 

Though  so  common  in  the  wild  regions  of  the  East,  it  has  not 
yet  found  its  way  into  cultivation  in  our  gardens,  and,  indeed,  it 
does  not  appear  to  be  in  any  of  the  gardens  of  Europe,  although 
the  people  there  make  great  efforts  to  get  everything  attractive 
from  all  parts  of  the  world.  It  has,  no  doubt,  often  been  intro- 
duced there,  but  seems  impatient  of  horticultural  restraint  and 
gradually  pines  away.  Indeed,  an  English  floricultural  writer 
of  sixty  years  ago  says  of  it,  "  Though  this  plant  is  tolerably 
hardy  in  our  country,  it  is  nevertheless  difficult  to  preserve  it  in 
gardens,  for  the  seeds  rarely  ripen  in  England  and  the  plants  are 
often  destroyed  in  winter  by  the  frost."  It  may  be  observed  that 
the  frost  it  endures  here  is  more  severe  than  any  in  Europe, 
but  it  is  found  that  many  plants  which  have  a  high  summer  heat 
will  endure  more  cold  in  winter,  and  in  this  way  the  cooler 
summer  temperature  of  Europe  is  not  favorable  to  great  endur- 
ance in  the  winter  season.  In  relation  to  the  difficulty  of  keep- 
ing it  alive  in  Europe,  Mr.  Philip  Miller,  another  celebrated 
garden-writer  of  the  past  age,  says,  "  The  only  method  by  which 
I  have  been  able  to  keep  these  plants  has  been  by  potting  them 
and  placing  the  pots  under  a  common  frame  in  winter,  where 
they  enjoyed  the  free  air  in  mild  weather,  but  were  protected 
from  frost ;  they  have  been  kept  in  this  way  for  three  years,  but 
never  ripened  seed  in  our  climate.." 

Although,  as  we  have  said,  there  are  a  great  many  points  of  in- 
terest in  the  Virginian  Hoary  Pea,  yet  the  plant  is  by  no  means  of 
the  highest  type  of  beauty.  The  thick  peduncle,  suddenly  termi- 
nating in  the  short,  thick-set  cluster,  has  a  rather  "  hunchbacked  " 
look,  and  the  gray  green  is  odd,  but  that  is  all.  The  elegance 
of  its  leaf-outlines  is  its  redeeming  feature.  Still  it  is  a  plant 
much  more  worthy  of  culture  than  many  which  have  a  place  in 
gardens,  and  our  own  florists  might  perhaps  be  more  successful 
with  it  than  those  of  England. 


Explanation  of  the  Plate.  —  i.    A  flowering  branch.  — 2.    Under  ground  stem,  or  rhizome. 


Vc 


r  LA  r  El 


oEDUM  Nevl: 


SEDUM    NEVII. 

NEVIUS'    STONE-CROP. 

NATURAL   ORDER,  CRASSULACE^. 

Sedum  Nevii,  Gray.  —  Stems  low,  three  to  five  inches,  ascending;  leaves  alternate,  scattered 
linear-clavate,  obtuse ;  flowers  sessile,  scattered  along  the  widely  spreading  or  recurved 
branches  of  the  simple  cyme  ;  bracts  linear,  longer  than  the  flowers  ;  sepals  linear-lanceo- 
late, acutish,  as  long  as  the  lanceolate  white  petals;  stamens  eight,  shorter  than  the 
petals  ;  anthers  purplish-brown  ;  carpels  tapering  into  the  short,  subulate  style.  (Chap- 
man's Flora  of  the  Southern  United  States.  See  also  Gray's  Manual  of  the  Bota7iy  of  the 
Northern  United  States.) 

EDUM  is  a  name  used  by  Pliny  and  other  old  Roman 
writers ;  and  Ainsworth  and  other  lexicographers  apply  it 
to  our  common  Houseleek,  —  Sanpcrvivum  tcctortcm.  The  old 
English  writers  knew  no  difference  between  Scdiim  and  Scmpcr- 
vivum;  and  Houseleeks  and  Stone-Crops,  such  as  we  under- 
stand by  Sempervivum  and  Scdum,  were  mixed  together  by  them, 
so  far  as  these  Latin  names  are  concerned,  although  they  had 
a  separate  place  in  their  works  for  Houseleeks,  as  distinct  from 
what  they  thought  Stone-Crops  to  be.  This  litde  piece  of 
history  is  important  in  connection  with  the  origin  of  the  name 
Scdum,  which  all  our  text-books  tell  us  is  from  scdco,  the  Latin 
verb  "  to  sit,"  and  is  supposed  to  have  been  given  to  these  plants 
from  the  habit  of  growing  on  bare  rocks,  sitting,  as  it  were,  o-- 
them ;  but  we  must  remember  that  the  name  is  a  very  old  one, 
and  was  merely  adopted  by  Linnaeus,  because  he  found  it  in 
connection  with  these  plants.  We  must  suppose  that  there  was 
nothing  particularly  novel  in  a  plant  seeming  to  sit  down,  as  if  it 
had  no  roots,  for  there  are  many  plants  which  would  convey  the 
impression  of  sitting  down  quite  as  vividly,  if  not  more  so,  than 


S6  SEDUM    NEVII. NEVIUS'    STONE-CROP. 

this  one,  and  we  shall,  therefore,  have  to  look  to  some  more 
plausible  reason  for  the  origin  of  the  name.  It  seems  much 
more  probable  that  it  comes  from  scdo,  "  to  assuage,"  and  has 
reference  to  the  healing  properties  of  the  Houseleek,  which 
latter,  as  already  noted,  is  regarded  as  the  original  Scdum.  The 
Houseleek,  indeed,  has  been  for  ages  one  of  the  most  popular 
remedies  for  relieving  pain.  An  old  herbalist  says  of  it,  "  The 
leaves,  bruised  and  laid  upon  the  crown  or  fore  part  of  the  head, 
stop  the  bleeding  of  the  nose  very  quickly ;  and  being  a^Dplied 
to  the  temples  and  forehead,  it  eases  the  headache,  and  allays 
the  beat  and  distemper  of  the  brain  through  fevers,  frenzies,  or 
want  of  sleep.  The  green  leaves  allay  all  sorts  of  inflammations 
in  any  part  of  the  body,  as  in  erysipelas  or  Anthony's  fire,  and 
all  other  hot  eruptions  of  the  flesh  and  skin ;  and  when  applied 
to  the  sting  of  nettles  or  of  bees,  it  presently  takes  away  the 
pain."  Indeed,  it  is  because  of  its  great  use  in  burns  and  scalds 
that  it  is  so  commonly  found  in  old-fashioned  gardens,  grown  by 
old-fashioned  people,  who  have  more  faith  in  herbs  at  hand  than 
in  the  prescriptions  of  physicians.  With  this  popular  impression 
of  the  value  of  the  Houseleek,  and  the  connection  of  the  plant 
with  the  ancient  appellation  Scdum,  it  seems  probable  that  sedo, 
and  not  sedeo,  is  the  root  of  its  name ;  and  this  becomes  still 
more  probable  when  we  note  that  e  is  used  long,  and  not  short, 
as  in  sedentary,  as  it  would  probably  be  if  the  two  words  were 
really  derived  from  the  same  root. 

The  name  Stone-Crop  may,  perhaps,  have  been  derived 
from  the  plant  "  sitting  "  on  stones.  The  old  Saxon  word  crop 
signified  the  top  of  anything,  as  when  we  say  the  "  rock  crops 
out,"  we  mean  we  see  the  top  of  the  rock  above  the  ground ; 
and  as  many  of  the  rocks  of  England  are  "  cropped "  with 
Sedums,  and  cropped  by  them  in  a  very  beautiful  manner  in 
many  instances,  there  is  no  difficulty  in  accepting  this  as  the 
origin  of  the  common  name. 

Many  of  the  old-world  Scdiims  have  a  hot,  biting  taste,  as 
for   instance   the   S.  acre,  or   "  Love-entangle "   of   old   gardens. 


SEDUM    NEVII. NEVIUS'    STONE-CROP.  8/ 

giving,  rather  than  assuaging,  burning  sensations,  as  the  original 
name  suggests.  But  no  mention  is  made  by  any  author  of  any 
particular  qualities,  good  or  bad,  in  connection  with  Amer- 
ican species.  They  will,  therefore,  be  of  interest  chiefly  to  the 
lover  of  the  curious  in  nature  and  the  cultivator  of  flowers,  to 
whom  all  the  species  are  very  welcome. 

Our  present  species  is  one  of  the  handsomest  of  American 
kinds.  It  has  not  long  been  known,  having  been  discovered 
within  the  past  twenty  years  by  Dr.  R.  D.  Nevius,  a  clergyman 
of  Alabama,  on  rocky  cliffs  near  Tuscaloosa  in  that  State.  The 
botany  of  the  South  has  not  yet  been  well  worked  up,  and 
zealous  collectors  are  continually  finding  new  species  which  have 
wholly  escaped  the  notice  of  others  before  them,  or  new  loca- 
tions for  some  that  have  been  supposed  rare.  Since  Dr.  Nevius 
found  this  plant,  Mr.  Wm.  M.  Canby  has  collected  it  on  Salt 
Pond  Mountain  in  Virginia,  and  Mr.  Howard  Shriver  on  the 
rocky  banks  of  the  New  River,  still  farther  north,  and  it  is  quite 
possible  that  it  may  be  found  abundantly  in  many  other  places 
in  the  great  Alleghany  range.  In  regard  to  its  beauty  when 
growing  in  its  natural  location,  Mr.  Shriver  thus  spoke  of  it  in 
the  first  volume  of  the  Botanical  Gazette,  at  the  time  of  his  dis- 
covery on  New  River:  "Our  cliffs  are  now  (early  spring)  cov- 
ered with  saxifrage,  draba,  and  a  variety  of  Sedimt  with  snowy 
flowers.  The  stems  shoot  up  from  amid  rosulate  leaves,  which 
are  obovate  or  very  short  spatulate,  often  not  rounded,  but 
wedge-shaped,  giving  the  idea  at  first  of  Dj'-aba  ramosissima. 
Stem-leaves  spatulate  to  linear  spatulate,  close  set  on  the  high 
simple  stem,  and  more  sparingly  on  the  three  branches  at  the 
summit.  Parts  of  the  flower  in  fours  (the  centre  one  in  fives), 
ovate-lanceolate,  somewhat  pointed  petals  twice  the  length  of  the 
ovate  blunt  sepals.  It  is  probably  6".  Nevii,  which  Mr.  Canby 
found  on  Salt  Pond  Mountain."  Our  full-face  view  of  an  en- 
larged flower  (Fig.  2)  accurately  illustrates  the  plant  as  described 
by  Mr.  Shriver,  although  the  specimen  from  which  the  drawing 
was  made,  and  for  which  \"€  are  indebted  to  Mr.  Jackson  Dawson, 


88  SEDUM    NEVIl. NEVIUS     STONE-CROP. 

of  the  Arnold  Arboretum,  was  a  cultivated  one.  It  will  be  observed 
that  Mr.  Shriver's  description  differs  a  little  from  Dr.  Chapman's, 
which  we  have  adopted,  as  to  the  relative  length  of  the  sepals  and 
petals;  but  as  Dr.  Gray  makes  no  reference  at  all  to  the  sepals 
or  petals,  it  is  probable  there  may  be  variation  in  this  respect, 
and  these  characters  may  therefore  be  of  no  specific  importance. 

As  a  general  rule,  Sedums  in  cultivation  like  exposed  and  warm, 
dry  places,  but  this  is  true  only  of  the  kinds  which  are  found 
naturally  in  low  regions.  Mountain  kinds,  though  they  do  like 
open  places  where  there  is  full  light,  as  a  general  rule  do  not  like 
a  high  temperature.  In  the  effort  to  cultivate  this  species  made 
by  the  writer,  it  was  placed  in  a  piece  of  rock-work,  with  a  large 
number  of  European  species,  but  it  gradually  dwindled  away. 

In  the  culture  of  Sedums  we  have  found  that,  in  spite  of  their 
succulence,  they  seem  very  grateful  when  suffered  to  grow 
where  they  can  get  abundant  moisture  as  well  as  light.  But  this 
moisture  must  be  only  for  the  foliage;  for  if  the  roots  be  in  the 
least  stagnated  with  water,  the  plant  suffers,  —  rots  away  in  fact. 
The  most  successful  Sedums  we  ever  saw  were  on  a  ledge  of  rock ; 
but  they  were  continually  washed  by  spray  from  a  fountain 
near  by,  and  thus  kept  up  a  beautiful,  carpet-like  green  mass  of 
herbage. 

Besides  the  discrepancy  between  the  characters  of  the  sepals 
and  petals  in  the  plants  seen  by  Mr.  Shriver,  and  those  described 
by  Dr.  Chapman,  there  seems  to  be  some  variation  in  the  time 
of  flowering.  Dr.  Gray  says  the  flowers  appear  "  three  or  four 
weeks  later  than "  those  of  Sedum  iernatum.  But  Dr  Chap- 
man says  S.  ternatum  flowers  in  May  and  June,  and  S.  Ncvii  in 
April  and  May. 

In  Nevii  the  specific  appellation  is  of  course  derived  from  the 
name  of  the  discoverer  of  the  plant.  Dr.  Nevins,  and  we  may 
therefore  give  for  its  common  name  "  Nevius'  Stone-Crop." 

Explanation   of  tiif,   Plate.  —  i.     Complete   i)lant.  —  2.     Full-face  view   of   an   enlarged 
flower. 


Vol.  ] 


Plate 


1. 


\ 


\ 


Platanthera  fimbptata 


L  Prang  &  CoMpf ": ;  ^'' 


PLATANTHERA     FIMBRIATA. 

GREAT    FRINGED    ORCHIS. 

NATURAL  ORDER,  ORCHIDACE^. 

PLATANTHERA  FiMBPaATA,  R.  Br.  —  Lower  leaves  oval  or  oblong,  the  upper  few  passing  into 
lanceolate  bracts  ;  spike  or  raceme  oblong,  loosely  flowered ;  lower  sepals  ovate,  acute  ; 
petals  oblong,  toothed  down  the  sides  ;  divisions  of  the  pendent  large  lip  fan-shaped, 
more  fringed.  (Gray's  Manual  of  the  BotaJiy  of  the  Northern  United  States.  See  also 
Wood's  Class-Book  of  Botany,  under  the  name  of  P.  Bigelovii.) 

HE   early  American   botanists   found  great   difficulty  in 
_^  studying  orchideous  plants.      Muhlenberg,  one   of    the 

earliest,  writing  to  William  Bartram  in  1792,  says  to  him  that 
he  could  never  satisfy  himself  about  Orchis,  Op/ijys,  and  some 
other  genera  which  he  mentions,  because,  as  he  continues,  "  they 
are  so  badly  described  in  some,  and  have  too  many  species  in 
others.  I  intend  to  transcribe  my  descriptions  for  your  perusal 
and  criticism  by  and  by,  and  hope  you  will  assist  me  in  clearing 
up  some  of  the  rubbish."  We  in  modern  times,  when  we  have 
so  large  a  list  of  names  to  choose  from,  can  appreciate  the  labors 
and  troubles  of  our  forefathers,  for  in  the  cases  of  most  Orchids 
there  are  long  lists  of  synonymous  names  which  have  been  given 
to  the  same  thing  by  different  authors  at  various  times.  With  the 
botanists  of  the  past  age  our  plant  was  Orchis  fi^nbriata,  and  since 
that  time  it  is  Platanthera  fimbriata,  or  Habenaria  fimbriata, 
according  to  the  different  views  of  authors,  setting  aside  other 
names  not  so  well  known.  The  modern  distinction  from  the 
true  Orchis  consists  chiefly  in  the  anthers  being  covered  by  a 
pouch  in  the  latter  genus,  while  in  Habenaria  or  Platanthera 
they  are  naked,  as  we  may  see  in  our  enlarged  Fig.  4.  Dr.  Gray, 
to  whom  we  have  made  our  leading  reference,  unites  Platanthera 


90  PLATANTHERA    FIMBRIATA. GREAT    FRINGED    ORCHIS. 

with  Habcnaria,  as  he  does  not  regard  the  separating  characters 
of  full  generic  importance.  The  leading  difference  is  that 
the  two  glands  are  approximate  in  the  one  section,  and  widely 
divergent  in  the  other.  There  is,  however,  so  little  natural  dis- 
tinction between  these  and  several  other  genera  from  the  true 
Orchis,  that  most  authors  have  to  explain  the  reasons  for  the 
adoption  of  the  several  designations,  and  each  branch  of  the 
Orchis  family  may  feel  a  pride  in  the  family  history  of  the 
ancient  name.  Our  species,  indeed,  approaches  in  general 
aspect  many  of  the  European  species  that  have  made  their 
mark  in  the  pages  of  polite  literature.  Thus  in  "Hamlet"  the 
queen  describes  the  manner  of  Ophelia's  death,  and  says, — 

"  There  is  a  willow  growing  o'er  a  brook, 
That  shows  his  hoar  leaves  in  the  glassy  stream, 
Near  which  fantastic  garlands  she  did  make 
Of  crow-flowers,  nettles,  daisies,  and  long  purples," 

which  last,  she  says,  are  also  called  "  Dead  Men's  Fingers." 
"  Long  Purples  "  and  "  Dead  Men's  Fingers  "  were  common 
names  applied  to  many  species  of  the  genus  Orchis  in  England, 
but  little  different  in  appearance  from  the  one  illustrated  here. 
Our  species  has  not  a  root  quite  so  characteristic  of  a  "  dead 
man's  fingers"  as  some  of  the  English  ones  which  suggested 
the  name;  but  as  we  see  in  our  Fig,  i,  there  is  enough  resem- 
blance to  claim  association  with  the  original  idea.  Rev.  Mr. 
Ellacomb,  writing  in  Mr.  Robinson's  "  Garden,"  shows  that  the 
name,  in  allusion  to  the  death-like  flesh  of  the  roots,  is  of  great 
antiquity.     He  quotes  an  old  ballad  as  follows  :  — 

"  Then  round  the  meddowes  did  she  walke. 
Catching  cache  flower  by  y"  stalke, 
Such  as  within  the  meddowes  grew, 
As  Deadman's  Thumb  and  Harebell  blew ; 
And  as  she  pluckt  them,  still  cried  she, 
'  Alas  !  there  's  none  e'er  loved  like  me.'  " 

In  our  country  the  former  botanical  name.  Orchis,  has  been 
adopted  in  popular  parlance ;    hence  this  species  is  known  as 


PLATANTHERA    FIMBRIATA. GREAT    FRINGED    ORCHIS.  9 1 

the  "  Great  Fringed  Orchis,"  and  by  no  other  name  that  we  are 
aware  of. 

There  are  many  interesting  features  in  a  study  of  this  species. 
The  long  slender  spur  which  we  have  endeavored  to  show  in 
Fig.  6  is  characteristic  of  many  species  of  the  genus,  and  su<^- 
gested  the  name  Habcnaria,  from  habena,  which  is  Latin  for  the 
round  leather  leash  of  a  whip,  or  part  of  the  reins  or  harness 
of  a  horse.     Platanfhcra,  the  generic  name,  is  from  the  Greek, 
signifying  "  broad  anthers,"  from  the  divergent  cells  of  the  an- 
thers, as  seen  in  Figs.  4  and  5.     The  insectiform  look  of  the  flower 
(^^S-  5)  is  very  Interesting;  but  the  most  striking  feature  is  seen  In 
the  two  eyes  of  a  moth  or  butterfly,  which  are  suggested  by  the 
divergent  anthcr-cclls.     The  petals  also  are  peculiarly  interesting 
from  their  great  dissimilarity.     The  Orchid  flower  is  formed  on 
a  ternary  type.     The  lower  verticil  Is  composed  of  a  whorl  of 
three  sepals,  and  the  upper  of  three  transformed  leaves  or  petals. 
In   our  Great  Fringed   Orchis  we    see  that  two   of  the  sepals 
are  nearly  equal  and  opposite  to  each  other,  while  the  third  of 
the  series  is  at  right  angles  with  them,  and  smaller,  as  we  see 
through  the  two  upper  petals.     But  the  three  petals,  or  upper 
leaves,  are  still  more  unequal  than  the  three  lower,  or  sepals; 
and  we  see  that  they  have  been  twisted  so  that  the  two  conform- 
ing ones  are  on  the  top,  while  the  more  Isolated  one  takes  the 
lower  place,  and  becomes  the  "  lip."      In  Its  Isolation  it  has,  how- 
ever, become  the  largest  instead  of  the  smallest,  as  is  the  case 
with  the  odd  one  in  the  lower  series,  and  has  so  divided  Itself 
that  It  appears  as  if  made  of  three  distinct  leaves  or  petals,  and 
each  of  these  lobes,  with  Its  fringed  edgings,  seems  to  have  a 
separate  existence  of  its  own.     The  form  of  the  Orchid  flowers 
Is  so  much  out  of  the  usual  course  of  nature  in  flowers,  as  some- 
times to  be  thought  diflicult  to  study,  but  if  we  get  down  to  the 
foundations  of  the  structure,  and   understand  the  plan  on  which 
the  flowers  arc  built,  few  will  be  found  that  are  easier.      In  order 
that  the  student  may  still  better  perceive  the   ternary  plan  on 
which  this  Orchid  is  formed,  we  give  In  Fig.  3  a  cross  section  of 


92  PLATANTHERA    FIMBRIATA. GREAT    FRINGED    ORCHIS. 

the  ovary.  If  we  examine  the  stem,  we  find  the  leaves  scattered 
thereon.  In  the  stem  growth  there  has  been  a  gradual  elonga- 
tion, but  we  see  that  it  takes  but  three  leaves  to  make  a  full 
circle  round  the  stem.  We  do  not  notice  indications  of  the 
spiral  growth  which  takes  these  leaves  round  the  stem,  but  it  is 
there.  It  is  the  more  sudden  twisting  and  arresting  of  the  elon- 
gating growth  that  make  the  set  of  three  sepals  and  of  three 
petals.  These  lengthenings  and  twistings  do  not  go  on  with 
regular  intensity,  but  as  in  waves,  sometimes  fast  and  sometimes 
slow.  Such  varying  intensity  and  sudden  change  of  degree  can- 
not be  seen  in  many  flowers;  but  this  Orchid,  as  well  as  some 
other  species,  gives  a  good  opportunity  for  observing  it.  If  we 
watch  the  ofrowth  of  the  flower  we  shall  find  that  it  first  makes  a 
slow,  elongating  growth,  and  that  the  twisting  comes  on  suddenly, 
usually  taking  but  a  few  hours  to  make  a  half-turn.  In  Fig,  2  we 
have  shown  an  almost  mature  seed-vessel  with  the  twist  towards 
the  base.     The  torsion  in  the  ovarium  is  also  shown  in  Fig.  6. 

The  Great  Frinsfed  Orchis  seems  to  have  been  first  made 
known  to  botanists  through  Dr.  Pitcairn,  who  introduced  it  from 
Newfoundland  to  the  Kew  Gardens  in  1777,  and  it  was  named 
Orchis  spectabilis  by  Willdenow  twenty  years  later.  Its  best 
home  is  still  found  to  be  in  the  northeastern  portion  of  the  United 
States.  It  extends  westward  from  New  England  to  Michigan, 
being  quite  a  common  Orchid  in  the  latter  State.  In  Northern 
and  Central  Ohio  it  is  also  common,  but  is  found  more  sparingly 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  State.  In  Pennsylvania  and  New 
York  it  is  found  chiefly  in  the  higher  districts,  becoming  scarcer 
as  it  reaches  lower  elevations.  In  New  Jersey,  which  in  many 
respects  is  the  home  of  Orchidacece,  it  is  found  only  in  the  more 
hilly  localities  in  the  western  part  of  the  State.  Our  specimen 
is  from  Massachusetts. 

Explanation  of  Plate.  —  i.  Whole  plant  with  root  and  hollow  stem.  —  2.  Seed-vessel 
approaching  maturity.  —  3.  Transverse  section  of  the  same.  —  4.  Divergent  gland  of  the 
anther-cells.  —  5.     Full-face  view  of  single  flower.  — 6.     Side  view  of  flower. 


L     1 


FOLATE 


5. 


'm§^ 


LiMNANTHEMUm     TiACUNOSUM. 


h.  PPANrt  &  CcjMi'Arrr,  bosTON 


LIMNANTHEMUM   LACUNOSUM. 

FLOATING   HEART. 

NATURAL   ORDER,  GENTIANACE^. 

LiMNANTHEMUM  LACUNOSUM,  Grisebach.  —  Leaves  entire,  round  heart-shaped,  one  to  two 
inches  broad,  thickish  ;  petioles  filiform;  lobes  of  the  white  corolla  broadly  oval,  naked, 
except  the  crest-like,  yellowish  gland  at  their  base,  twice  the  length  of  the  lanceolate  calyx- 
lobes  ;  style  none  ;  seeds  smooth  and  even.  (Gray's  Mamcal  of  ike  Botany  of  the  Northern 
United  States.  See  also  Chapman's  Flora  of  the  Souther  Ji  United  States,  and  Wood's  Class- 
Book  of  Botany.) 

HE  plant  which  forms  our  present  theme  affords  us  an  ex- 
cellent lesson  in  regard  to  the  meaning  of  botanical  names. 
When  we  hear  for  the  first  time  the  name  of  a  human  indi- 
vidual, we  do  not  concern  ourselves  about  its  meaning  in  any 
relation  to  the  person  bearing  it.  We  like  to  know  its  his- 
tory, for  its  own  sake.  That  some  Mr.  Baker  or  Mr.  Taylor 
had  a  primeval  ancestor  who  followed  baking  or  clothes-making 
may,  perhaps,  have  been  the  reason  why  he  and  all  his  posterity 
bear  that  name ;  but  we  do  not  expect  the  persons  so  named 
now  to  follow  these  occupations.  A  name  which  means  nothing 
is  just  as  good  as  one  with  the  most  expressive  of  meanings. 
Now,  many  persons  think  names  which  are  expressive  should  be 
given  to  plants;  but  expressive  names  so  often  mislead  that 
those  which  have  no  meaning  of  any  immediate  application  to 
the  plant  in  question  are  generally  preferable.  For  this  reason 
those  which  commemorate  the  services  of  botanists  are  much  in 
favor  with  many  who  describe  new  plants.  How  names  capable 
of  special  application  may  mislead,  is  shown  in  the  present 
instance.  Liinnanthe'muin  is  derived  from  two  Greek  words, 
limne,  mud,  and  antlios,  a  flower,  because,  as  one  would  suppose, 
the  original  species  grew  in  a  marshy  or  muddy  place.     But  the 


94  LIMNANTHEMUM    LACUNOSUM. FLOATING    HEART. 

earliest  known  species,  L.  nymphcEoidcs,  a  European  plant,  grows 
under  water,  where  the  leaves  can  float  on  the  surface,  and  does 
not  seem  to  occur  in  situations  strictly  conforming  to-those 
alluded  to.  It  is  properly  an  aquatic,  and  not  a  marsh  plant,  as 
the  name  would  imply,  and  as  Gmelin  (author  of  the  "  Flora  of 
Siberia")  seems  to  have  supposed.  Our  species  was  named 
L.  lacunostim,  from  the  Latin  laciis,  a  lake,  by  Grisebach,  the 
author  of  a  Flora  of  the  West  Indies,  from  its  actual  place  of 
growth,  and  it  might  be  supposed  as  a  corrective  of  its  generic 
name.  But  there  are  in  other  countries  more  species  that  grow 
in  lakes,  so  we  see  there  is  nothing  distinctive  in  either  name ; 
and  those  therefore  who  might  infer  it  to  be  so,  would  be  led 
into  serious  error. 

In  old  works  our  plant  has  to  be  sought  for  under  the  name 
of  Mcnyanthes,  or,  as  it  is  spelled  by  Pliny,  Minianthcs.  Some 
writers  contend  that  this  name  is  derived  from  vicns,  a  month,  in 
allusion  to  its  old  reputation  in  certain  diseases,  or,  as  Dr.  Gray 
says,  from  the  fact  that  the  flowers  last  about  a  month,  while 
those  who  adopt  the  Plinian  orthography  maintain  that  it  comes 
from  the  miniate  or  red-lead  color  of  the  flowers.  At  a  later 
period,  it  will  be  found  among  Villarsia,  so  named  from  a 
French  botanist,  Villar  or  Villars.  Nuttall  has  it  under  Vil- 
larsia,  and  Michaux  and  Muhlenberg  under  Mcnyanthcs ;  but 
all  our  modern  botanists  are  united  on  Limnaiithmtum.  It 
differs  from  Menyanthes  particularly  in  the  shape  of  the  corolla, 
which,  when  expanded,  is  wheel-shaped,  as  seen  in  our  Fig.  4, 
while  that  of  Menyanthes  is  formed  like  a  funnel. 

The  flowers  proceeding  from  the  petiole  or  leaf-stalk  will,  of 
course,  attract  attention,  and  their  position  will  afford  a  good 
lesson  in  vegetable  morphology,  as  showing  the  intimate  rela- 
tionship between  leaves  and  the  axis.  It  will  be  remembered 
by  the  student  that  a  flower  does  not  consist  simply  of  modified 
leaves,  but  of  the  modified  stem  and  leaves,  —  a  whole  branch, 
and  not  merely  the  leaves  of  a  loranch.  Now,  it  is  a  well-known 
axiom   that   the   lesser  cannot    be  greater   than    its   whole.     It 


LIMNANTHEMUM    LACUNOSUM. FLOATING    HEART.  95 

follows,  therefore,  that  if  the  flower,  which  is  essentially  stem 
and  leaves,  spring  from  a  leaf-stalk,  the  leaf-stalk  must  itself 
possess  the  same  essential  elements.  Other  plants  will  afford 
the  same  lesson  in  other  ways,  and  we  take  this  one  now,  simply 
because  the  occasion  presents  itself.  Besides  the  position  and 
nature  of  the  flowers,  it  will  also  be  interesting  to  note  that 
roots  and  buds,  making  new  growths,  start  out  in  close  neigh- 
borhood to  the  clusters  of  flowers,  so  that  the  petiole  or 
leaf-stalk  becomes  essentially  a  stolon,  as  in  the  runner  of  a 
strawberry,  differing  from  the  latter  in  nothing  but  its  erect 
position.  It  is  altogether  a  very  good  lesson  as  to  how  one 
part  of  a  plant  grows  out  of,  or  is  formed  from,  another  or 
other  parts. 

The  flowers  themselves  are  very  interesting.  There  are  five 
small  sepals,  as  seen  in  Fig.  5,  and,  alternating  with  them,  five 
petals  ver)^  prettily  fringed  and  slightly  incurved  at  the  edges. 
(Figs.  4,  3,  6.)  Alternate  with  these,  and  opposite  the  sepals,  are 
five  stamens,  and  alternate  again  with  these  are  five  glands.  (Fig. 
4.)  These  glands  are  possibly  only  another  series  of  stamens, 
which,  by  becoming  absorbed  by  the  petals  in  a  very  early  stage, 
have  been  aborted.  The  flowers  open  and  close  at  regular 
times  of  the  day,  but  under  exactly  what  conditions  the  writer  has 
not  been  able  to  determine.  The  roots  remain  in  the  mud  dur- 
ing the  winter,  pushing  up  in  early  spring,  and  by  the  end  of 
June  the  flowers  appear  from  underneath  the  leaf-blades,  only  a 
portion  of  these  leaves,  however,  producing  flowers.  There  ap- 
pears no  difference  in  strength  or  vigor  between  those  leaves 
which  flower  and  those  which  do  not,  although  there  must  cer- 
tainly be  a  difference  in  nutrition  in  favor  of  the  flowering  leaves. 
This,  also,  is  a  fact  well  worthy  of  remark  and  further  investiga- 
tion, as  in  most  other  plants  such  a  difference  in  nutrition  would 
manifest  itself  in  a  diminished,  or  increased  growth. 

It  is  said  by  some  who  have  grown  certain  species  of  this  genus 
that  they  are  very  easy  of  cultivation,  taking  care  of  themselves 
without  any  difliculty  when  once  established.     This  one,  how- 


g6  LIMNANTHEMUM    LACUNOSUM. FLOATING    HEART. 

ever,  does  not  seem  to  have  been  taken  in  charge  by  gardeners, 
but  would  no  doubt  do  as  v^ell  as  any  of  the  rest.  For  small 
lakes  or  ponds  it  would  be  very  appropriate.  The  way  to  plant 
these,  and  water  plants  generally,  is  to  tie  them  up  loosely  in 
thin  muslin,  with  earth  and  stones,  and  then  sink  the  whole  bundle 
in  the  water. 

There  have  been  no  poetical  associations  connected  with  the 
Floating  Heart,  as  there  have  been  with  so  many  other  repre- 
sentatives of  the  gciitianaceous  order.  It  seems  strange  that  it 
has  been  overlooked.  Emblematists  might  surely  have  discov- 
ered in  the  dart-like,  faded  flowers,  partly  seen  from  the  heart- 
shaped  leaves,  some  relation  to  the  story  of  Cupid,  and  this 
the  more  so  from  its  very  suggestive  common  name  of  Floating 
Heart. 

It  is  remarkable  that  there  should  be  but  very  few  species  in 
the  genus  to  which  our  plant  belongs,  and  yet  that  there  should 
be  representatives  of  it  in  every  quarter  of  the  globe.  Its  head- 
quarters seems  to  be  in  the  East  Indies,  where  there  may  be  half 
a  dozen  species.  There  are,  also,  one  or  two  in  New  Holland, 
about  the  same  number  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  two  in 
our  own  country.  One  is  found  in  Japan,  another  in  Europe 
and  Eastern  Asia,  one  in  Brazil  and  one  in  South  America,  with 
possibly  a  few  others  here  and  there. 

Our  Floatine  Heart  seems  to  be  abundant  in  Maine  and  New 
England,  becoming  rare  as  it  reaches  New  Jersey,  although  it 
extends  to  Florida  on  this  side  of  the  Alleghanies.  Its  western 
limit  in  the  north  seems  to  be  Ohio,  but  it  travels  southwest  and 
is  found  in  abundance  in  Missouri  and  Arkansas. 

The  specimen  from  which  the  accompanying  drawing  was 
made  was  kindly  furnished  to  us  by  Mr.  Jackson  Dawson,  the 
head  grardener  of  the  Arnold  Arboretum,  Boston,  Mass. 

o 

Explanation  of  the  Plate.  —  i.  Barren  leaves.  —  2.  Fertile  leaf.  —  3.  Closed  flowers, 
showing  fringed  edged  petals  enlarged.  —  4.  Enlarged  expanded  flower.  —  5.  Flowers, 
natural  size,  showing  calyx.  — 6.     Flowers,  natural  size,  showing  incurved  petals. 


Vol.  1 


Plate  25. 


HOUSTONEA    CCER,UI.)EA. 


L .  Prang  &  CoMPArr/,  Boston 


HOUSTONIA    C^RULEA. 

BLUETS. 

NATURAL   ORDER,  RUBIACE.T.  (Cinchonace.^  ok  Lindley). 

lIousTONiA  C/ERULEA,  Linnseus.  —  Glabrous;  stems  erect,  slender,  sparingly  branched  from 
the  base,  three  to  five  inches  high  ;  leaves  oblong-spatulate,  one  cjuarter  to  one  third  of 
an  inch  long  ;  peduncle  filiform,  erect;  corolla  with  tube  much  longer  than  its  lobes,  or 
than  those  of  the  calyx  ;  flowers  light  blue,  pale  lilac,  or  nearly  white,  with  a  yellowish 
eye.  (Gray's  Manual  of  the  Botany  of  the  Northern  United  States.  See  also  Wood's 
Class-Book  of  Botany.) 


O  plant  is  better  known  than  this  one  in  the  districts 
where  it  grows  wild,  as  it  is  among  the  first  to  bloom 
in  spring,  and  attracts  every  one's  attention.  It  was  included 
among  the  specimens  collected  in  Virginia  by  Clayton  in  the 
last  century.  The  dried  specimens  which  he  sent  to  Gronovius 
were  for  the  most  part  described  by  this  celebrated  Dutch 
naturalist,  and  it  was  he  who  named  our  plant  in  honor  of 
Dr.  William  Houston  (or  Houstoun,  as  Alton  writes  it),  an 
English  physician  who  botanized  extensively  in  Central  Amer- 
ica, and  sent  a  large  number  of  plants  to  the  Physic  Garden 
at  Chelsea,  then  under  the  charge  of  the  well-known  Miller. 
Houston  was  also  a  contributor  to  the  "  Philosophical  Transac- 
tions," and  seems  generally  to  have  been  a  very  useful  man 
among  the  botanists  of  his  time.  He  died  young  in  1733;  but 
his  friends  brou2:ht  his  botanical  labors  to  the  notice  of  Lin- 
naeus.  who  in  his  earlier  works  acknowleds^es  his  indebtedness 
to  them.  Linnceus  also  adopted  the  name  Hoiistonia  from  Gro- 
novius, and  this  will  explain  why  in  some  works  the  name  is 
credited  to  the  latter,  and   in  others  to   the  former.      It  is   not 


98  HOUSTONIA    C/ERULEA. BLUETS. 

customary  to  go  back  beyond  the  works  of  Linn^us  in  tracing 
such  records  of  botanical  appellations. 

The  propriety  of  the  adjective  ccEvidca  (or  cosrulca),  which 
means  blue,  has  been  questioned  by  some  botanists.  Thus  an 
English  author  of  eminence  says:  "  Why  coertilea,  we  cannot  tell, 
for  we  have  never  seen  any  blue  about  it."  This,  however, 
seems  rather  a  strong  statement  in  the  face  of  the  combined 
authority  of  many  other  botanists.  Prof.  Gray  says  of  the  little 
flowers  of  our  species  that  they  are  "  light  blue,  pale  lilac,  or 
nearly  white,  with  a  yellowish  eye  "  ;  Prof.  Wood  describes  them 
simply  as  "  pale  blue,  yellowish  at  the  centre  " ;  and  Dr.  Chap- 
man, who  describes  the  plant  under  the  name  of  Oldenlandia 
coerulea,  speaks  of  them  as  having  the  "  corolla  blue  or  white, 
yellow  in  the  throat."  It  will  be  seen  that  blue  is  given  as  the 
leading  color  by  all  these  authorities ;  and  it  may,  therefore,  be 
said,  perhaps,  that  the  Houstonia  has  as  much  right  to  be  called 
blue  as  many  another  flower. 

It  is  remarkable  that  so  common  and  so  pretty  a  plant  should 
have  remained  for  so  long  a  time  without  a  generally  accepted 
English  name  ;  and  yet  this  was  the  case,  as  we  learn  from 
Nuttall,  who  wrote  in  1827:  "I  know  no  common,  prevalent 
name  for  our  beautiful  Houstonia  ccsrulcay  About  1830,  bota- 
nists speak  of  it  as  the  "  Venus'  Pride  " ;  and  this  name  still  exists, 
to  some  extent,  in  the  vicinity  of  Washington,  D.  C.  In  many 
parts  of  the  country  it  is  termed  "  Bluets  "  ;  but  even  if  we  do  not 
object  to  the  association  with  blue,  we  might  ask,  in  imitation  of 
the  English  writer  above  quoted,  "  Why  Bluets  ?  "  for  the  word 
certainly  seems  to  be  altogether  meaningless.  "  Innocence  "  is 
also  quite  a  common  name,  and  in  some  places,  according  to 
Darlington  and  Wood,  "  Dwarf  Pink."  Near  Philadelphia,  the 
universal  name  is  "  Quaker  Bonnet,"  and  elsewhere  "  American 
Daisy"  has  also  been  used.  It  is  rare  that  we  have  such  an 
abundance  of  names  to  choose  from,  and  one  is  almost  tempted 
to  say  that  the  people,  in  trying  to  atone  for  the  long  neglect  of 
this  modest,  yet  beautiful  little  flower,  ran  to  the  other  extreme 


HOUSTONIA    C^RULEA. BLUETS.  99 

of  over-naming  it.  That  the  first  name  in  the  Hst,  Venus' 
Pride,  did  not  become  popular,  is  hardly  to  be  wondered  at ;  for 
according  to  all  accounts,  Venus  was  rather  a  dashing  young 
lady,  with  a  high  opinion  of  her  own  charms,  and  such  a  char- 
acter is  totally  at  variance  with  this  "  wee,  modest,  crimson- 
tip'd  flower,"  as  our  Innocence  might  be  called  in  imitation 
of  Burns,  who  in  these  words  characterizes  the  English  daisy. 
Those  poets  who  have  taken  this  little  flower  as  the  emblem  of 
contentment  and  happiness  under  poor  surroundings  have  per- 
ceived a  truth  more  clearly  than  is  often  the  case.  No  flower 
that  we  know  of  so  well  expresses  the  virtue  of  great  merits, 
combined  with  modesty  of  bearing,  as  this.  It  might  well  say, 
with  Pope,  —     ' 

"  Honor  and  shame  from  no  conditions  rise  ; 
Act  well  your  part,  there  all  the  honor  lies." 

But  leaving  sentiment  aside,  we  find  in  our  plant  a  great  deal 
to  interest  those  even  who  care  chiefly  for  material  things. 
Dr.  Gray  has  pointed  out  that  the  "  flowers  are  dimorphous  in 
some  individuals,  with  the  anthers  borne  up  on  the  tube  of  the 
corolla  and  projecting  from  its  throat,  while  the  style  is  short, 
and  the  stigma,  therefore,  included ;  in  the  other  sort,  the  anthers 
are  low  down  in  the  corolla  and  the  style  long,  the  stigmas, 
therefore,  protruding."  Dr.  Gray  does  not  notice  the  additional 
fact  of  the  dimorphic  tubes  of  the  corolla.  In  the  one  form,  in 
which  the  pistil  is  wholly  included,  the  thick  portion  of  the  tube 
is  very  short,  and  the  anthers  are  set  on  the  ledge  at  the  point 
where  the  tube  narrows  (see  Fig.  2),  while,  in  the  case  where  the 
stigma  is  exserted,  the  narrow  portion  of  the  tube  is  the  short- 
est (Fig.  3),  There  is  no  lengthening  of  the  stamens  in  either 
case,  but  they  are  simply  borne  up  or  down,  according  to  the 
position  of  the  ledge  on  which  they  are  placed.  In  Mr. 
Darwin's  interesting  book  on  "  Forms  of  Flowers,"  this  dimor- 
phism is  referred  to  in  connection  with  some  experiments  of 
Prof.   J.   T.  Rothrock   on   cultivated  plants ;    and   Mr.  Darwin 


lOO  HOUSTONIA    C/ERULEA. BLUETS. 

shows  that  in  the  long-styled  form  the  pistil  is  stronger  than  in 
the  short-styled  one. 

There  are  some  facts  connected  with  the  distribution  of  our 
little  Bluet  which  are  also  very  interesting  to  the  student. 
While  in  some  districts  the  plant  seems  to  exist  in  great  pro- 
fusion, it  is  sometimes  totally  absent  in  contiguous  districts  in 
which  the  circumstances  may  seem  quite  as  favorable  as  else- 
where. Willis,  in  his  "  Catalogue  of  the  Flora  of  New  Jersey," 
gives  only  one  locality  for  it  in  that  State,  namely,  near  Camden; 
while,  on  the  other  side  of  the  Delaware  River,  it  seems  every- 
where abundant.  A  correspondent  of  the  "  Bulletin  of  the  Tor- 
rey  Botanical  Club,"  however,  says  it  is  also  abundant  in  New 
Jersey,  along  the  Passaic  River,  near  Newark.  The  same  maga- 
zine notices  that  in  the  State  of  New  York  it  may  be  abundant 
in  some  counties,  and  wanting  in  others  near  by.  The  causes 
of  unequal  distribution  are  worth  investigating.  With  the  facts 
we  have  given  of  its  irregular  distribution,  it  is  not  quite  clear 
what  its  general  geographical  range  may  be.  Prof.  Wood  gives 
it  as  "  found  in  most  grounds,  fields,  and  roadsides,  Canada  and 
the  United  States";  and  Dr.  Chapman  says,  "Moist  banks, 
Florida  to  Mississippi  and  northward."  There  is  no  record, 
however,  of  its  being  found  in  Michigan,  and  it  is  quite  likely  to 
be  rare  in  some  other  States  included  in  the  general  scope 
named  by  the  authors  above  quoted. 


Explanation  of  the  Plate.  —  i.  A  complete  plant,  with  barren  shoots,  half-mature  seed- 
vessel,  and  flowers.  —  2.  Half  section  of  a  narrow-tubed  corolla,  showing  the  stamens 
near  the  mouth.  —  3.  Half  section  of  a  thick-tubed  flower,  with  the  stamens  low  down 
from  the  mouth. 


Plate 


Viola  pedata. 


VIOLA    PEDATA. 

BIRD'S-FOOT     VIOLET. 

NATURAL    ORDER,    VIOLACE^. 

Viola  pedata,  Linnjeus.— Nearly  smooth;  rootstock  short  and  very  thick,  erect,  not  scaly ; 
leaves  all  three  to  five  divided,  or  the  earliest  only  parted,  the  lateral  divisions  two  to 
three  parted,  all  linear  or  narrowly  spatulate,  sometimes  two  to  three  toothed  or  cut  at  the 
apex  ;  petals  beardless  ;  stigma  nearly  beakless ;  flowers  large,  one  inch  broad,  pale  or 
deep  lilac-purple,  or  blue.  (Gray's  Manual  of  the  Botany  of  the  N'orthern  United  States. 
See  also  Wood's  Class-Book  of  Botany,  and  Chapman's  Flora  of  the  Southern  United 
States.) 

R ITERS  have  given  various  accounts  of  the  derivation 
of  the  word  Viola,  as  applied  botanically  to  the  Violets, 
but  most  of  them  rest  contented  with  the  simple  statement  that 
it  is  the  origcinal  Latin  name,  to  which  some  add,  "  of  uncertain 
etymology."  One  of  the  best  modern  writers  on  the  Latin 
lano-uaee,  Ainsworth,  considers  it,  however,  to  be  derived  from 
the  Greek.  In  that  language  the  Violet  is  called  ion,  and  this  is 
a  derivative  from  ienai,  which  signifies  "  to  go."  It  has  been 
sucro-ested,  therefore,  that  the  name  was  given  to  our  plant  from 
its  being  a  companion  to  the  traveller  going  through  woods  and 
along  paths,  and  in  this  connection  the  Latin  Viola  comes  to 
us,  via  being  a  path  or  way.  This  has  plausibility  to  recom- 
mend it,  and  is  no  worse  an  explanation  than  most  of  those 
which  are  offered  as  solutions  of  many  similar  puzzles.  It  is,  at 
least,  pleasant  to  associate  the  Violet  with  wayside  travel,  for 
few  persons,  probably,  look  back  on  their  childhood,  and  remem- 
ber their  early  rambles  along  rural  paths,  without  giving  the 
Violet  a  prominent  place  in  these  happy  recollections.  Whittier 
truly  says :  — 


I02  VIOLA    PEDATA. BIRD's-FOOT   VIOLET. 

"  Not  wholly  can  the  heart  unlearn 
The  lesson  of  its  better  hours; 
Nor  yet  has  Time's  dull  footstep  worn 
To  common  dust  that  path  of  flowers." 

Our  present  species,  Viola  pedata,  or  Bird's-Foot  Violet, 
though  we  may  so  pleasantly  recall  it  in  the  history  of  our  ear- 
lier years,  is  not  the  earliest  to  flower  when  springtime  comes. 
Some  few  species  are  ready  with  their  delicate  charms  as 
early  as  the  end  of  March,  or  by  the  first  week  in  April,  but  the 
"  little  birdie's  foot,"  as  the  children  pettingly  call  it,  is  seldom 
seen  before  May.  It  makes  up  for  its  sluggishness,  however,  by 
its  superior  attractions  when  it  does  come,  for  it  is  the  laro-est 
and  the  showiest  of  all  our  native  species.  Not  only  is  it  beau- 
tiful in  its  flowers,  but  its  delicately  cut  and  divided  leaves  give 
it  an  elegance  which  not  one  of  our  other  species  possesses. 
The  Bird's-Foot  Violet,  also,  has  a  sort  of  perception  of  our  love 
of  variety,  and  therefore  gives  us  many  forms  both  of  flowers  and 
foliage.  This  fact  is  singular  enough  when  we  consider  it  in 
connection  with  the  statement  of  a  philosophic  writer  on  English 
Violets  that,  while  the  pansy,  which  belongs  to  the  Violet  family 
{Viola  tricolor),  has  "bent  itself  completely  to  our  will,  the 
Violet  proper  stubbornly  refuses  to  give  us  any  change,  and  the 
Violet  of  the  present  time  is  the  old  Violet  of  our  fathers  still." 
To  carry  the  fancy  further,  we  might  say  that,  hopeless  of  rival- 
ling the  pansy  in  the  affections  of  the  cultivator,  the  English 
Violet  wisely  kept  to  its  own,  while  our  American  species,  there 
being  no  native  pansy  to  compete  with  it,  is  trying  what  it  may 
do  to  improve.  It  is  remarkable,  also,  that  one  of  the  forms 
which  the  Viola  pedata  takes  on  is  not  unlike  the  pansy,  as  we 
see  by  the  example  given  in  our  plate.  This  form  is  by  no 
means  uncommon,  if  we  may  judge  by  recent  communications  in 
the  "  Bulletin  of  the  Torrey  Botanical  Club,"  of  New  York,  and 
the  writer  of  this  has  often  had  it  sent  to  him  as  a  curious  va- 
riety by  friends  in  many  of  the  Atlantic  United  States.  In  all 
cases  the  two  upper  petals  were  those  that  had  changed  to  the 


VIOLA    PEDATA. BIRDS-FOOT    VIOLET.  IO3 

beautiful  crimson-purple  of  the  pansy;  and  the  reason  why, 
when  it  does  change,  it  should  change  in  this  uniform  way,  is 
worthy  of  the  attention  of  the  energetic  student.  There  are 
similar  instances  in  other  plants.  Pure  white  varieties  are  also 
very  common  in  some  districts,  as  noted  by  Prof.  Thurber  and 
Dr.  I.  H.  Hale,  in  the  serial  from  which  we  have  just  quoted. 
In  the  district  from  which  our  illustration  was  taken,  Eastern 
Pennsylvania,  the  chief  variations  are  from  whitish  to  purple, 
and  there  are  many  shades  between  these.  But  the  tendency  to 
vary,  far  from  being  confined  to  the  color  alone,  also  manifests 
itself  very  markedly  in  the  form  of  the  petals.  Some  are  very 
broad,  giving  the  flower  a  round-faced,  jolly  appearance,  while 
some  are  mere  narrow  straps,  embodying  the  thoughtful  and 
careworn  expression.  There  seems  to  be  but  little  doubt  that,  in 
the  hands  of  some  enterprising  improver,  the  Bird's-Foot  Vio- 
let would  give  highly  interesting  results.  It  is  remarkable  that 
the  English  florists,  with  their  known  watchfulness,  have  done 
nothing  in  a  field  so  inviting,  for  the  plant  has  been  in  their 
hands  since  1759,  in  which  year  it  was  enumerated  by  Philip 
Miller  as  being  in  the  Apothecaries'  Garden,  at  Chelsea,  near 
London,  to  which  it  was  probably  sent  by  John  Bartram,  from 
Philadelphia,  with  whom  Miller  commenced  exchanging  plants 
in  1755.  But  perhaps  the  European  florists  are  so  well  satisfied 
with  the  pansy,  that  the  Bird's-Foot  Violet  offers  no  tempta- 
tion to  them.  It  bears  cultivation  very  well  in  our  gardens, 
though  very  seldom  seen  in  the  collections  of  the  lovers  of  hardy 
border  flowers. 

Independently  of  its  interest  to  the  mere  spectator  in  the 
great  field  of  beauty,  our  plant  has  also  much  for  those  who  like 
to  look  more  closely  into  the  processes  of  nature.  The  root, 
when  the  plant  is  taken  up,  has  a  bitten-off  appearance,  or,  as 
botanists  say,  it  is  pr^morse.  Properly  speaking,  however,  this 
pr^morse  "root"  is  nothing  but  an  underground  stem, —  a  little 
trunk,  —  and  the  real  roots,  thread-like,  proceed  from  it.  This 
stem  makes  a  new  addition  to  its  crown  every  year,  and  some  of 


I04  VIOLA    PEDATA. BIRDS-FOOT    VIOLET. 

the  lower  portion  dies  away,  just  as  we  see  it  in  the  corm  of  a 
gladiolus  or  similar  bulb,  and  this  leaves  the  bottom  of  the  little 
stem  fiat,  or  as  if  it  were  bitten  off.  Indeed,  there  is  actually 
little  essential  difference,  beyond  the  shape,  between  a  bulb,  a 
corm,  and  such  a  structure  as  this  underground  violet-stem. 
Again,  the  flower  is  worthy  of  close  study  from  its  peculiar 
stigma,  which  is  large,  compressed  at  the  sides,  and  perforated, 
and  very  unlike  that  of  most  Violets.  It  is,  furthermore,  very 
interesting  to  study  this  species  in  connection  with  the  question 
of  cleistogamotis  ^o\N^x's>,  which,  as  the  reader  knows,  are  flowers 
without  petals,  fertilized  in  the  bud  before  the  calyx  opens,  and 
which  follow,  during  the  summer,  the  complete  flowers  with 
petals  which  cease  to  appear  after  June.  Nuttall  and  the  earlier 
botanists  believed  that  all  the  North  American  species  of  Violets 
produced  these  apetalous,  "  secretly  fertilized  "  flowers,  but  the 
writer  of  this  has  never  found  them  on  this  species,  though  he 
has  on  most  of  the  others.  It  is  quite  likely  they  may  appear  in 
some  localities.  Large  numbers  of  the  flowers  give  no  seeds, 
but  on  this  and  many  other  points  additional  observations  are 
much  needed. 

Most  Violets  are  fond  of  high  elevations,  but  in  the  temperate 
regions  some  are  quite  at  home  when  near  the  level  of  the  sea. 
Our  Bird's-Foot  Violet  is  found  in  low  yet  dryish  situations, 
and  seems  rather  to  like  to  get  up  the  hillsides.  Mr.  Shriver 
tells  us  in  the  "  Botanical  Gazette,"  that  at  Wytheville,  in  Vir- 
ginia, it  is  found  in  the  Alleghanies  a  half-mile  high.  Its 
geographical  range  commences  in  Canada  and  goes  down  to 
Florida  along  the  seaboard  States,  although  Dr.  Chapman  inti- 
mates that  it  has  no  great  love  for  the  warmer  parts  of  the 
South,  but  is  found  chiefly  in  the  upper  districts.  It  extends 
west  to  Wisconsin,  but  is  not  found  in  great  abundance  till  it 
approaches  the  southern  boundaries  of  the  State.  In  Ohio, 
Illinois,  and  Indiana  it  is  frequently  met  with. 

Explanation  ok  the  Plate.  —  i.     Part  of  a  root-stock,  with  leaves  and  flowers.  —  2.     Bou- 
quet of  varieties. 


Vol. 


Plate  :l 


Calla   palustris. 


CALLA    PALUSTRIS. 

BOG-ARUM. 
NATURAL  ORDER,  ARACE^  (Orontiace^  of  Lindley's  Vegetable  Kingdom). 

Calla  PALUSTRIS,  L.  —  Spathe  open  and  spreading,  ovate,  persistent;  spadix  oblong,  entirely 
covered  with  flowers  ;  the  lower  perfect  and  hexandrous,  the  upper  often  of  stamens  only ; 
flora!  envelopes  none  ;  filaments  slender ;  anthers  two-celled,  opening  lengthwise  ;  ovary 
one-celled,  with  five  to  nine  anatropous  ovules ;  stigma  almost  sessile  ;  berries  (red)  dis- 
tinct, few-seeded  ;  seeds  with  a  conspicuous  raphe,  and  an  embryo  nearly  the  length  of  the 
hard  albumen.  (Gray's  Manual  of  the  Botany  of  the  Northern  United  States.  See  also 
Wood's  Class-Booh  of  Botany.) 

HE  derivation  of  the  name  Calla  is  uncertain.  Prof. 
Wood  and  others  believe  it  is  from  a  Greek  word  which 
signifies  "  beautiful  " ;  but  though  many  of  the  Aroid  order  are 
interesting,  there  are  none  so  striking  for  their  beauty  as  to 
suggest  a  name  specially  based  on  that  quality.  Dr.  Gray 
seems  to  be  of  the  same  opinion,  as  he  confines  himself  to  say- 
ing that  Calla  is  "  an  ancient  name  of  unknown  meaninsf." 
Some  of  the  plants  comprised  in  the  genus  were  certainly  known 
by  this  name  in  very  remote  times ;  and  Dalechamp,  a  French 
author  of  many  years  ago,  believed  it  was  already  applied  to  a 
species  belonging  to  this  family  by  the  ancient  writer  Pliny. 
Linnceus,  finding  it  in  use  in  connection  with  this  plant,  adopted 
it  as  it  now  stands.  If  we  felt  inclined  to  hazard  a  mere  guess 
ourselves,  we  might  perhaps  say  that,  inasmuch  as  most  of  the 
species  likely  to  have  been  known  to  the  ancients  are  of  a  peculiar 
tint  of  green,  the  name  probably  originated  in  a  word  denoting 
a'  sea-green  color. 

The  Calla  pahtstris  is  extremely  interesting,  in  studying  the 
natural  orders  of  plants,  as  affording  a  good  lesson  on  the  uncer- 


I06  CALLA    PALUSTRIS. BOG-ARUM. 

tainty  of  characters  derived  from  mere  sexual  distinctions.  As 
noted  in  our  botanical  references  at  the  head  of  this  article,  Dr. 
Lindley  classes  our  plant  in  the  natural  order  07''ontiaccce^  which 
was  divided  from  the  true  Arums,  as  they  were  then  considered, 
by  R.  Brown.  In  support  of  this  arrangement,  Dr.  Lindley 
says :  "  The  greater  part  of  these  plants  {Orontiads)  have  the  habit 
of  Arads,  with  which  they  are  usually  associated,  and  from 
which,  in  fact,  they  differ  only  in  having  hermaphrodite  flowers, 
which  have  usually  a  scaly  perianth."  But  as  we  see  by  the 
description  we  have  given  from  Dr.  Gray,  our  plant  often  has 
the  upper  flowers  staminate  only,  and  there  is,  therefore,  no 
morphological  reason  why  all  the  flowers  might  not  be  so  under 
some  circumstances.  In  like  manner,  we  have  in  our  plant  an 
absence  of  the  perianth,  which,  Dr.  Lindley  remarks,  should 
"  usually  exist "  in  the  order.  These  and  other  considerations 
fully  justify  American  botanists  in  not  recognizing  OrontiacecB 
as  a  natural  order. 

The  resemblance,  in  general  appearance,  of  our  plant  to  the 
common  Calla,  or  Richardia  Aithiopica  of  our  gardens,  is  very 
striking;  and  indeed  the  two  were  for  a  long  time  associated 
together  under  the  same  family  name.  But  the  Egyptian  plant 
has  been  separated  by  Kunth,  under  the  name  of  Richardia, 
because  the  anthers  have  no  filaments,  —  are  sessile,  —  and  be- 
cause of  a  difference  in  the  cell-divisions  of  the  ovary.  Stress 
is  also  laid  on  the  fact  that,  while  in  Richardia  the  spathe  is 
convolute,  and  folds  around  the  spadix  as  a  perianth  would  do 
in  an  ordinary  flower,  in  the  true  Calla  it  is  flattened  and 
exposes  the  spadix  to  full  view. 

It  is  quite  remarkable  that  so  pretty  a  native  plant  has  not 
found  its  way  into  general  culture  ;  for  though  not  so  striking 
as  its  sister,  the  Richardia,  or  Calla  Lily,  it  has  the  great 
advantage  of  being  thoroughly  hardy,  while  the  other  is  de- 
stroyed by  a  very  little  frost.  It  seems  to  be  more  appreciated 
in  England  than  here  ;  for  Mr.  Robinson,  in  his  work  on  "Alpine 
Flowers  "  cultivated  in  English  gardens,  pays  it  a  high  compli- 


CALLA    PALUSTRIS. BOG-ARUM.  IO7 

ment.  He  says :  "  More  beauty  (in  ah  Alpine  garden)  than  any 
native  plant  affords,  results  from  planting  in  boggy  places  this 
small,  trailing  Arad,  which  has  pretty  little  spathes  of  the  color 
of  those  of  its  relative,  the  Ethiopian  Lily.  It  is  thoroughly 
hardy,  and  though  often  grown  in  water,  likes  a  moist  bog 
much  better.  In  a  bog  or  muddy  place,  shaded  by  trees  to 
some  extent,  it  will  grow  larger  in  flower  and  leaf  than  in  water, 
though  it  is  quite  at  home  when  fully  exposed.  In  a  bog  car- 
peted by  the  dark-green  leaves  of  this  plant,  the  effect  is  very 
pleasing,  as  its  white  flowers  crop  up  here  and  there  along  each 
rhizome,  just  raised  above  the  leaves.  Those  having  natural 
bogs  would  find  it  a  very  interesting  plant  to  introduce  to  them ; 
and  for  the  moist,  spongy  spots  near  the  rock  garden,  or  by  the 
side  of  a  rill,  it  is  one  of  the  best  things  that  can  be  used."  We 
may  add  that  those  who  have  no  moist  places  on  their  grounds 
can  cultivate  this  and  similar  plants  by  filling  small  kegs  with 
earth  and  sinking  them  in  the  ground  to  their  rim.  As  the 
water  cannot  readily  escape,  a  sort  of  a  natural  bog  results, 
which  suits  these  plants  very  well  in  the  stead  of  their  natural 
habitats. 

The  Bog-Arum  is  not  only  a  native  of  the  United  States,  but 
is  also  common  in  Northeastern  Europe,  and  its  hardiness  may  be 
well  understood  from  its  being  a  very  common  plant  in  Lapland. 
In  some  of  these  high  northern  regions,  it  seems,  indeed,  to 
grow  with  more  luxuriance  than  it  ever  reaches  in  our  country. 
An  old  writer  speaks  of  it  as,  in  these  high  latitudes,  "growing 
so  vigorously  as  often  to  exclude  other  plants,  and  occupy  whole 
marshes  alone  by  themselves.  They  have  a  hot,  biting  taste, 
and  yet  bread  is  made  from  the  roots."  An  English  writer  of 
several  centuries  ago  also  speaks  of  an  "  Aron  known  as  Starch- 
wort  " ;  and  it  is  quite  likely  that  the  species  native  with  us  is 
the  one  alluded  to  ;  for  Dr.  Lindley  says :  "  The  rhizomes  of 
Calla  palust7ns,2\i\-\0Vig\\  acrid  and  caustic  to  the  highest  degree, 
are,  according  to  Linnaeus,  made  into  a  kind  of  bread  in  high 
estimation  in  Lapland.     This  is  performed  by  drying  and  grind- 


lOS  CALLA    PALUSTRIS. BOG-ARUM. 

ing  the  roots,  afterwards  boiling  and  macerating  them  till  they 
are  deprived  of  their  acrimony,  when  they  are  baked  like  other 
farinaceous  substances.  It  is  called  missebroed  in  Lapland.  The 
plant  has  the  reputation  of  being  a  very  active  diaphoretic." 

Besides  in  Lapland,  it  is  also  reported  as  being  very  abundant 
in  Norway  and  Sweden,  Holland,  Germany,  and  Russia,  to 
Siberia.  \\\  our  own  country,  Dr.  Gray  records  it  as  being 
found  in  "  cold  bogs.  New  England  to  Pennsylvania,  Wisconsin, 
and  common  northwards " ;  and  Prof.  Wood,  as  "  in  shallow 
waters,  Pennsylvania  to  New  England,  Wisconsin  and  British 
America."  Prof.  Porter  records  it  as  being  gathered  by  him  in 
Northwestern  New  Jersey.  The  "  Bulletin  of  the  Torrey  Botani- 
cal Club,"  of  New  York,  gives,  as  special  locations,  "  New  Dur- 
ham Swamp,"  and  "  Orange  County,  New  York."  It  seems 
rather  common  in  Wisconsin,  and  was  found  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  State  of  Ohio  by  Mr.  Beardslee.  All  the  leading 
authors  seem  to  make  Pennsylvania  its  southern  limit,  but  it  is 
included  in  old  lists  of  the  flora  of  the  District  of  Columbia, 
though  not  in  the  catalogue  of  the  modern  "  Potomac  Naturalists' 
Field  Club."  It  has  not  been  the  writer's  privilege  to  find  it  wild 
anywhere  himself,  and  the  specimen  from  which  the  accompany- 
ing drawing  was  made  was  gathered  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Boston  by  Mr.  Jackson  Dawson.    - 

The  specific  name  palustris  is,  of  course,  in  reference  to  the 
marshy  places  in  which  the  plant  grows.  Its  common  name  in 
England,  according  to  Mr.  Robinson,  is  "  Bog-Arum."  Dr.  Gray 
gives  the  common  name  in  New  England  as  "  Water-Arum." 
As  we  have  to  choose  between  the  tvvo,  and  Mr.  Robinson  says 
it  grows  better  in  wet  land  than  in  water,  we  have  placed  "  Bog- 
Arum  "  at  the  head  of  our  description. 


Explanation  of  the  Plate. —  i.  Rhizome  and  complete  plant. —  2.  Scape,  with  fruit 
approaching  maturity.  —  3.  Single  flower,  with  stamens  and  ovary  magnified.  —  4.  Cross 
section  of  the  ovary,  showing  portion  of  the  ovules. 


Vol, 


Plate 


Euphorbia  corollata. 

L.  Ppako  &  Company,  Boston 


EUPHORBIA   COROLLATA. 

FLOWERING    SPURGE. 

NATURAL  ORDER,  EUPHORBIACEiE. 


Euphorbia  corollata,  L.  —  Erect;  cauline  and  floral  leaves  oblong,  narrow,  obtuse;  glands 
of  the  involucre  obovate,  petaloid ;  umbel  five-rayed,  rays  two  or  three  times  di-  or  tri- 
chotomous ;  stem  slender,  erect,  one  to  two  feet  high,  generally  simple  and  smooth ;  leaves 
one  to  two  inches  long,  often  quite  linear,  very  entire,  scattered  on  the  stem,  verticillate, 
and  opposite  in  the  umbel ;  the  umbel  is  generally  quite  regularly  subdivided ;  corolla- 
like involucre  large,  white,  showy.  (Wood's  Class-Book  of  Botaiiv.  See  also  Gray's 
Manual  of  the  Botany  of  the  Northern  United  States,  and  Chapman's  Flora  of  the 
Southern   United  States.) 

Mt  t 

URING  the  wars  between  Caesar   and    Pompey,  one  of 


the  partisans  of  the  latter,  King  Juba,  of  Mauritania,  or 
Southern  Africa,  distinguished  himself  by  his  martial  skill,  and 
has,  therefore,  had  his  deeds  handed  down  for  the  edification  of 
posterity,  although  finally  he  suffered  a  disastrous  defeat.  The 
same  king  is  also  celebrated  in  history  as  being  the  father  of  a 
son,  great  in  science  and  general  intelligence,  who  bore  his  own 
name.  But  he  must  himself  have  been  a  man  of  some  penetra- 
tion, if  history  can  be  trusted  to  tell  the  truth  about  kings ;  for 
it  is  said  that  Juba,  although  he  had  a  very  famous  physician, 
himself  discovered  wonderful  medical  virtues  in  a  plant  growing 
wild  in  his  dominions.  It  is  furthermore  stated  that  he  named 
this  plant  after  his  physician,  who  was  called  Euphorbus,  and 
hence  our  botanical  name  Euphoj^bia.  What  particular  species 
it  was  that  the  Mauritanian  prince  thus  honored  with  his  atten- 
tion has  not  been  definitely  decided;  for  in  that  king's  old 
dominions  the  Euphorbiacccs  abound  as  thick,  heavy,  succulent 
bushes,  many  indeed  being  small  trees  of  twenty  feet  or  more  in 


no  EUPHORBIA    COROLLATA. FLOWERING    SPURGE. 

height.  These  plants  have  much  the  appearance  of  the  cactuses 
of  our  own  continent,  bearing  spines  on  the  angles  of  the  stems, 
as  our  cactuses  do,  but  differing  from  them  in  having  a  milky 
juice  which  runs  freely  on  the  slightest  puncture.  In  these  his- 
tories of  botanical  names,  such  as  the  one  just  related,  we  must 
accept  the  accounts  as  they  are  handed  down  to  us,  without 
much  questioning.  Otherwise,  if  we  were  to  examine  them 
critically,  we  might  frequently  be  led  to  reject  them  altogether. 
In  the  present  case,  for  instance,  it  might  be  said  that  such  very 
common  and  peculiarly  striking  plants  must  certainly  have  had 
some  recognized  name  long  before  King  Juba  deigned  to  take 
notice  of  one  of  them.  Even  our  wild  Indians  give  common 
names  to  striking  plants,  and  as  the  literal  meaning  of  Euphorbia 
is  "  well  fed,"  it  might  be  argued  that  it  is  a  designation  very 
likely  to  occur  to  any  one  in  connection  with  such  fat-looking, 
milk-o-oro-ed  veg^etation,  without  necessitating  the  intervention  of 
a  royal  intellect. 

The  common  name  of  the  family  is  "  Spurge,"  and  seems  to 
come  from  the  French  "  Espurge."  It  is  the  same  in  effect  as 
our  word  purge,  which  expresses  the  peculiar  virtues  said  to  have 
been  discovered  by  King  Juba.  All  the  members  of  the  genus 
Euphorbia  possess  more  or  less  of  this  purging  character,  and  a 
plant  of  the  same  natural  order,  Riciims  comi7tunis,  is  indeed  the 
veritable  castor-oil  plant.  Aside  from  this  purging  character, 
the  Euphorbias,  all  of  which  are  poisonous,  seem  to  have  no 
qualities  useful  to  mankind.  Our  own  famous  botanist,  Nuttall, 
appears  to  have  had  quite  a  dislike  to  them,  for  he  speaks  of 
them  in  a  manner  unusual  in  one  who  always  showed  so  great  a 
devotion  to  nature  in  every  form.  He  says :  "  The  economy  of 
the  genus  Euphorbia  appears  to  be  very  limited.  In  the  deserts 
of  Africa  they  only  tend,  as  it  were,  to  augment  the  surrounding 
scenes  of  desolation ;  leafless,  bitter,  thorny,  and  poisonous,  they 
seem  to  deny  food  to  every  animated  being.  Among  the  Euro- 
pean and  American  species,  there  are  some  which  have  been 
used  medicinally,  but  they  are,  at  best,  dangerous  and  needless 


EUPHORBIA    COROLLATA. FLOWERING    SPURGE.  I  I  I 

remedies."  His  contemporary,  Rafinesque,  however,  seems  to 
have  had  more  charity  for  them,  as  he  selects  our  plant,  the 
Euphorbia  corollata,  as  a  leading  representative  of  the  "  Medical 
Flora  of  the  United  States,"  giving  an  illustration  of  it  in  the 
curious  work  bearing  that  title.  He  says  that,  as  a  purge,  the  E. 
corolla ta  is  the  most  efficient  of  all  the  American  species,  as  only 
about  three  to  ten  grains  need  to  be  taken,  and  that  a  dose  of 
from  ten  to  twenty  is  a  good  emetic.  He  further  says  that  the 
action  is  always  proportionate  to  the  quantity  taken,  which  is  not 
the  case  with  common  ipecac,  and  that  it  is,  therefore,  more 
"  manageable  and  safe."  It  appears  that  the  peculiar  medicinal 
character  of  this  plant  was  known  to  the  Indians,  and  Rafinesque 
notes  as  a  very  singular  circumstance  the  close  resemblance  of 
the  name  given  to  it  by  the  Indians  of  Louisiana,  "  Peheca,"  to 
the  Brazilian  name,  "  Ipeca,"  more  especially  as  both  words  have 
the  same  meaning,  namely,  "  Emetic  Root," 

The  root  Is  somewhat  fusiform  in  shape,  with  very  little  ten- 
dency to  branch,  and  has  only  a  few  fibres  attached  to  the  lower 
end.  It  is  covered  with  a  thick  bark,  which  in  old  plants  some- 
times constitutes  two  thirds  of  the  whole  root,  and  in  this  bark 
the  medicinal  properties  chiefly  reside.  It  seems  to  have  served 
a  good  purpose  to  the  Southern  Confederacy  during  the  civil 
war.  Dr.  F.  R.  Porcher,  who  was  one  of  the  medical  officers  in 
the  Confederate  service,  says,  on  the  authority  of  Dr.  Frost, 
Professor  of  Materia  Medica  in  South  Carolina  Medical  College, 
who  had  used  it  in  his  practice  "  with  great  benefit,"  that  "  it  is 
as  active  as  ipecacuanha,  and  fully  entitled  to  the  consideration 
of  the  profession.  .  .  .  Even  should  it  not  be  employed,  every 
physician  should  be  instructed  in  its  properties,  and,  when  the 
occasion  requires  it,  know  the  substitute  he  can  use  in  case  of 
need."  We  have  been  so  particular  in  recording  the  opinion  of 
our  physicians  on  this  subject,  because  we  were  unwilling  that 
so  pretty  a  native  plant  should  be  regarded  as  an  utterly  worth- 
less thing. 

As  a  matter  of  scientific  accuracy,  we  must  also  note,  for  the 


112  EUPHORBIA    COROLLATA. FLOWERING    SPURGE. 

benefit  of  the  lover  of  wild  fiowers,  that  the  pretty  blossoms 
which  he  admires  are  not  flowers  at  all ;  that  is  to  say,  the  white 
structures  are  not  petals,  as  in  ordinary  fiowers,  but  merely 
bracts.  It  is  some  comfort  to  know  that  the  great  Linnaeus 
thought  they  were  true  perianths,  and  that  he  placed  the  plant 
in  his  sexual  class,  Enneandria,  as  a  single  flower,  having  nine 
stamens.  But  really  each  stamen  represents  a  single  flower,  as 
a  close  examination  will  show.  The  stamens  come  out  from  the 
axils  of  little,  leaves  or  bracts,  each  one  having  its  little  home  to 
itself.  The  female  flower  is  simply  an  ovary  on  a  short  stalk, 
and  occupies  the  central  place  in  this  curious  specimen  of  in- 
florescence. The  fiowers  are,  therefore,  monoecious,  or  in  other 
words,  the  male  and  female  flowers  are  separate,  although  the 
petal-like  semblance  of  the  involucral  bracts  imparts  to  the  whole 
the  appearance  of  a  seemingly  regular  hermaphrodite  flower. 
This  leafy  or  bract-like  character  of  these  appendages  may  be 
better  understood  by  examining  the  common  green-house  Poiu- 
sdta,  from  Mexico,  the  scarlet  bracts  of  which  are  so  often  found 
among  cut  flowers. 

The  Euphorbia  corollata,  or  Flowering  Spurge,  is  widely  dif- 
fused over  the  eastern  part  of  the  United  States,  growing  (some- 
times low  and  spreading,  according  to  Gray,  in  his  "  Field, 
Forest,  and  Garden  Botany ")  in  open,  waste  woodlands,  and 
often  in  badly  cultivated  fields.  It  seems  to  have  its  northeast- 
erly limit  in  New  York,  whence  it  extends  across  the  continent  to 
Nebraska,  down  to  Arkansas,  and  from  there  eastward  to  Florida, 
thus  making  a  home  for  itself  over  a  vast  extent  of  territory. 
We  know  of  no  attempt  to  cultivate  it,  not  even  in  England, 
where  so  much  enterprise  is  shown  in  getting  together  pretty 
flowering  things.  It  is  generally  in  bloom  in  July  and  August, 
and  makes  a  branching  stem  about  two  feet  high.  Our  plate,  it 
will  be  seen,  represents  only  a  portion  of  the  panicle. 


ERRATUM. 

Part  VI,  p.  92,  line  14  from  below,  instead  of  OrcJiis 
spectabilis,  read  Orchis  Jimbriata. 


Vol 


Plate   29. 


POTEN^ 


T/-RT 


RUTICOSA 


POTENTILLA    FRUTICOSA. 

SHRUBBY   CINQUE-FOIL. 

NATURAL   ORDER,    ROSACEA. 

PoTENTiLLA  FRUTICOSA,  L.  —  Stem  erect,  shrubby,  two  to  four  feet  high,  very  much  branched; 
leaves  pinnate;  leaflets  five  to  seven,  closely  crowded,  oblong-lanceolate,  entire,  silky, 
especially  beneath;  stipules  scale-like;  flowers  numerous,  yellow,  terminating  the  branch- 
lets.  (Gray's  Manual  of  the  Botany  of  the  Northern  United  States.  See  alsoWood's  Class- 
Book  of  Botany) 

CCORDING  to  Dr.  Gray,  the  name  of  the  genus 
Potentilla  is  "  a  kind  of  diminutive  from  potcns,  powerful, 
alluding  to  the  reputed  medicinal  power,  of  which,  in  fact,  these 
plants  possess  very  little,  being  merely  mild  astringents,  like  the 
rest  of  the  tribe."  Almost  every  common  plant  had  some  great 
virtue  attached  to  it  by  the  people  of  the  olden  time,  and  for 
this  one  it  was  claimed  that  "  it  is  good  against  all  sorts  of  agues 
and  fevers,  whether  Continent,  Continual,  or  Contermitting : 
whether  they  be  burning  fevers  only,  Malign  or  Pestilential.  It 
cools  and  attemperates  the  blood,  and  Humors,  and  is  an  excel- 
lent thing  for  a  Lotion,  Injection,  Gargle,  and  the  like,  for  Sore 
Mouths,  Ulcers,  Cankers,  and  other  corrupt,  foul,  and  running 
Sores.  The  juice  mixt  with  a  little  Honey,  prevails  against 
Hoarseness,  as  also  the  Cough  of  the  Lungs."  These  are  some 
of  the  reputed  powers  to  which  Dr.  Gray  refers,  and  which 
suggested  the  present  botanical  name  of  the  family.  In  old 
writers  we  find  the  appellations  Pentaphyllum  and  Quiuqiiefolium, 
Greek  and  Latin  names,  respectively,  for  "  five-leaved,"  the  leaves 
of  most  of  the  species  being  in  fives,  and  the  present  common 
name,   "  Cinque-foil,"   is,   of   course,  identical  with   these.     But 


114  POTENTILLA    FRUTICOSA. SHRUBBY    CINQUE-FOIL. 

the  orthography  of  the  latter  is  French,  and  it  is  a  matter  of 
surprise  that  a  plant,  so  common  in  England  as  is  the  Cinque- 
foil,  in  numerous  forms,  should  yet  seem  to  have  had  no  dis- 
tinctively English  name  whatever. 

Most  of  the  Potentillas,  or  Cinque-foils,  are  creeping  plants, 
or  herbaceous  plants,  with  evergreen  foliage,  such  as  is  the 
strawberry  plant,  to  which  family,  indeed,  the  Cinque-foils  are 
closely  allied ;  but  the  Potentilla  fruticosa  takes  on  a  woody 
character,  and  becomes  a  small  bush,  and  in  this  is  an  exception 
to  all  the  rest  of  the  family,  of  which  there  are  nearly  a  hundred 
species.  Some  botanists  have,  indeed,  tried  to  make  several 
species  out  of  the  one  now  under  discussion.  In  Europe,  where 
it  also  grows  wild,  it  has  long  been  known ;  and  when  Pursh 
came  to  this  country,  in  the  beginning  of  the  present  century, 
and  found  the  plant  here,  he  believed  it  to  be  distinct,  and 
named  it  Potentilla  floribitnda.  Nestler  also  thought  the  Rus- 
sian plant  distinct  from  the  general  European  form,  and  called 
it  P.  daviirica.  Schlechtendal  again  names  a  kind  with  narrow 
leaves  P.  temiifolia.  But  the  best  authors  in  Europe,  and  all  in 
America,  agree  in  considering  all  these  forms  as  mere  varieties 
of  our  present  P .  fruticosa. 

The  student  will  notice,  on  examining  the  circuit  of  the  leaves 
round  the  stem  of  Potentilla,  that  five  leaves  form  a  complete  cir- 
cuit, or  a  verticil,  and  he  will  perceive  the  operation  of  the  same 
law  in  the  formation  of  the  flower,  which  Is,  indeed,  nothing  but  a 
suddenly  arrested  branch,  the  petals  and  sepals  being  transformed 
leaves.     He  therefore  finds  a  double  row  of  sepals  of  five  each,  and 
five  petals  in  the  flower,  and  the  stamens  generally  some  multiple 
of  five.     When  any  of  the  number  is  wanting  in  these  cases,  it  is 
generally  because   the   convolving   and  depressing  growth  has 
been  so  rapid  as  to  entirely  obliterate  some  of   the  petals,  or  In 
botanical  language,  because  they  have  disappeared  by  abortion. 
The  gradual  retardation  of  the  wave  growth   Is   very  prettily 
illustrated  here.     Although  most  Cinque-foils  have  but  five  leaf- 
lets, the  Shrubby  Cinque-foil  has  often  seven  ;  but  when  growth- 


POTENTILLA    FRUTICOSA. SHRUBBY    CINQUE-FOIL.  II  5 

force  Is  about  to  be  arrested  by  reproductive  force,  only  five 
are  formed,  and  then,  successively,  only  three,  two,  and  one. 
Thus  it  appears  that  the  rapid  convolutions,  which  end  in  the 
verticils  forming  the  flowers,  occur  only  when  the  growth-force 
has  been  reduced  to  the  production  of  single  leaflets  instead  of 
full  leaves.  If  the  same  thing  were  to  occur  before,  at  the  three 
or  five  leafleted  condition,  the  probability  is  that  the  petals  would 
each  be  three  or  five  lobed  instead  of  entire,  as  we  see  them 
now.  There  is  also  some  special  interest  in  the  calyx,  which, 
as  we  have  said,  is  composed  of  a  double  verticil  of  five  leaves 
each.  The  outer  set  remains  somewhat  spreading,  but  the  inner 
is  bent  Inwards,  making  a  slight  covering  for  the  naked  seeds 
(Fig.  3).  The  result  is  a  very  pretty  design  for  ornamental 
work,  as  shown  In  our  full-face  view  of  the  capsule  in  Fig.  2. 
The  seeds  in  this  species  of  Cinque-foil  have  likewise  a  special 
interest  of  their  own.  In  some  of  the  allied  Potcntillas,  the 
styles  are  thickened  upwards,  being  what  is  technically  called 
"  clavate  "  or  "  club-shaped  "  ;  but  our  species,  with  a  few  others, 
has  them  filiform,  so  that,  after  the  petals  have  fallen,  the  seeds 
look  as  if  they  were  covered  by  a  growth  of  thin  hair.  On  this 
account,  Torrey  and  Gray  grouped  these  species  together  In  a 
separate  subdivision,  with  the  expressive  name,  Comocarpa,  — 
coma  signifying  a  head  of  hair. 

Poteiitilla  frtdicosa  is  also  interesting  from  a  geographical 
point  of  view.  It  is  widely  diffused  over  the  northern  regions ; 
and  if  we  allow  the  several  forms  alluded  to  above  to  be  simply 
varieties  of  the  same  species,  we  may  say  that  it  makes  a  circuit 
completely  round  the  globe.  It  is  abundant  In  Maine,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  Connecticut,  decreasing  in  extent  through  New 
York  till  it  reaches  a  southern  limit  In  Northwestern  New 
Jersey.  We  know  of  no  locality  w^iere  It  is  wild  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, although  not  uncommon  there  in  half-cultivated  places. 
In  its  New  England  locations,  it  seems  to  prefer  low,  wet 
meadows.  In  Ohio,  it  Is  found  in  dryer  situations.  When  It 
reaches  Michigan,  it  loves  to  grow  among  the  sand  on  the  lake 


Il6  POTENTILLA    FRUTICOSA. SHRUBBY    CINQUE-FOIL. 

shores ;  but  as  it  travels  farther  into  the  State,  it  is  found  on 
dry,  rocky  places  in  the  dells.  In  Colorado,  it  grows  in  extremely 
dry  localities,  both  in  the  foot-hills  and  high  up  in  the  moun- 
tains, and  it  continues  in  this  way  to  vary  its  conditions  until  it 
reaches  California,  where,  according  to  the  geological  survey  of 
that  State,  it  is  found  in  Ebbett  s  Pass,  in  the  Sierra  Nevada, 
and  thence  takes  its  march  northward  to  Siberia.  In  Wyoming, 
Dr.  C.  C.  Parry  tells  us  that,  with  a  few  other  rosaceous  plants, 
it  forms  almost  all  the  shrubbery  they  have  in  that  treeless 
region  ;  but  it  is  only  a  small  shrub,  rarely  exceeding  two  feet 
high  in  our  gardens,  where  it  is  very  easily  grown  and  very  wel- 
come on  account  of  its  profusion  of  bloom  from  July  till  Octo- 
ber, and  at  a  season  of  the  year  when  few  other  shrubs  give  us 
any  flowers. 

In  some  parts  of  Connecticut,  it  has  found  the  soil  and  climate 
so  much  to  its  liking  that  it  takes  complete  possession  of  the 
ground,  to  the  great  annoyance  of  the  agriculturist.  It  is 
called  "  Hard  Hack  "  in  those  parts ;  but  as  this  name  is  better 
known  in  connection  with  Spircea  tomentosa,  there  is  no  reason 
why  it  should  supersede  Shrubby  Cinque-foil.  Dr.  I.  H.  Hall, 
hov/ever,  in  the  "  Bulletin  of  the  Torrey  Botanical  Club,"  Vol.  I, 
says  that  it  is  the  P.  argtita  which  the  people  of  Connecticut 
call  "  Hard  Hack,"  and  which  is  so  bad  a  weed  there. 

It  is  said  to  be  a  remarkable  fact  that,  although  all  other 
animals  will  eat  Potcntilla  fruticosa  greedily,  hogs  cannot  be 
persuaded,  under  any  circumstances,  to  touch  it.  We  have  not 
been  able  to  verify  this  from  experience,  and  so  give  it  as  part 
of  existing  history,  subject  to  future  experiment ;  for  in  these 
matters  repetition  of  observations  does  no  harm.  In  some 
parts  of  Europe,  brooms  are  made  of  the  branches,  which  are 
said  to  be  equal  to  heath  or  birch,  but  the  plant  has  no  known 
use  in  this  country. 

Explanation  of  the  Plate. —  i.     A  flowering  branch.  —  2.     Calyx  in  full-face  view,  show- 
ing its  beauty  for  ornamental  designs.  —  3.    Calyx,  showing  the  five  inflexed,  upper  sepals. 


Plate  30. 


LiNUM     PERENNE 


L  PRATfO  &  COMPATTi',  BOSTON 


LINUM    PERENNE. 

PERENNIAL   FLAX. 

NATURAL   ORDER,   LINACEtE. 

LiNUM  PERENNE,  L.  — Smooth  and  glaucous,  one  to  two  and  a  half  feet  high,  branching  above, 
leafy;  leaves  linear  to  linear-lanceolate,  three  to  eighteen  lines  long,  acute  ;  stipular  glands 
none  ;  flowers  large,  blue,  in  few-flowered  corymbs,  or  scattered  on  the  leafy  branches  on 
slender  pedicels ;  sepals  three  to  five  nerved,  ovate,  acute,  or  obtuse,  one  and  a  half  to 
two  and  a  half  lines  long;  capsule  globose,  acute,  exceeding  the  sepals,  at  length  dehiscent 
by  ten  valves,  the  prominent  false  partition  long-ciliate ;  fruiting  pedicels  erect  or  deflexcd. 
(Botany  of  California.  See  also  Porter's  Flora  of  Colorado,  Watson's  Botany  of  the  i,oth 
Parallel,  and  Wood's  Class-Book  of  Botany ) 

"  Oh,  the  goodly  flax-flower  ! 
It  groweth  on  the  hill, 
And  be  the  breeze  awake  or  sleep, 

It  never  standeth  still. 
It  seemeth  all  astir  with  life, 

As  if  it  loved  to  thrive. 
As  if  it  had  a  merry  heart 
Within  its  stem  alive  !  " 

HE    full    force    of   these    lines    of    Mary    Howitt    never 

^ imiDressed  itself  so  strongly  on  the  writer  as  when,  high 

up  "  the  hill "  in  the  Rocky  Mountains,  he  gathered  for  the  first 
time  a  wild  specimen  of  the  plant  now  illustrated.  It  was  in  a 
particularly  barren  spot,  where  even  the  few  things  that  grow 
in  this  inhospitable  region  hardly  dared  to  risk  themselves ;  but 
the  Linum  pcrenne  was  doing  beautifully,  expanding  its  large, 
blue  flowers  to  the  morning  sun  "  as  if  it  loved  to  thrive  "  even 
in  so  dreary  a  place.  It  is  found  in  quite  low  elevations,  but 
increases  in  abundance  as  it  travels  up  the  hillsides.  The 
expression  that  "  it  never  standeth  still "  applies  better  to  our 
Flax  than  to  the  closely  allied  European  species  of  Liimm  usita- 


Il8  LINUM    PERENNE. PERENNIAL   FLAX. 

tissimum,  or  "  most  useful "  Flax,  of  which  Mrs.  Howitt  wrote, 
and  whicli  is  an  annual,  dying  after  the  seed  has  ripened,  w^iile 
ours  is  a  perennial  species,  the  plant  continuing  on  from  year 
to  year.  Its  continuous  growth  is,  indeed,  remarkable.  In  the 
early  spring  w^e  find  it  little  more  than  a  small  tuft  of  green 
leaves,  but  it  soon  throws  up  from  each  bud  a  flower-shoot 
which  by  May  is  covered  with  blossoms.  It  does  not  commence 
to  bloom  till  it  has  made  its  full  length,  and  then  the  uppermost 
fliov/er  opens  first.  After  this  the  lateral  ones  open  continu- 
ously from  the  side  branches  downwards.  Those  branches 
which  flower  first  naturally  mature  first.  By  September  the 
flowering  stems  have  nearly  all  ripened,  and  commenced  to  turn 
brown.  Other  branches,  however,  still  continue  to  push  out 
from  the  lower  buds  on  the  main  shoots  ;  but  as  if  they  had  an 
instinctive  knowledge  that  there  would  not  be  time  to  ripen 
seed  before  the  winter  sets  in,  they  make  no  attempt  to  flower. 
These  late-growing  shoots  are  just  as  vigorous  as  those  which, 
in  the  early  part  of  the  season,  threw  up  flower-stems,  and  their 
office  seems  to  be  to  elaborate  sap,  and  store  up  nourishment  in 
the  crown  for  next  year's  floral  growth.  It  is,  no  doubt,  this 
autumn  crop  of  growth  which  is  the  real  agent  in  making  our 
Flax  a  i^erennial,  while  the  closely  allied  European  species  is  an 
annual.  If  the  latter  had  its  flower-stalks  cropped  so  as  to  force 
it  to  throw  out  a  late,  leafy  growth  below,  it  would,  probably,  be 
as  perennial  as  the  American  species,  and  still  more  "  astir  with 
life  "  than  the  jDoetess  describes  it.  The  plant  in  the  writer's 
garden,  brought  many  years  ago  from  Colorado,  and  from  which 
our  drawing  was  made,  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  in  the 
collection,  in  early  winter,  by  the  mass  of  living  green  shoots 
pushing  up  so  freely  among  the  mature  and  dry  stems. 

These  seed-bearing  branches  of  our  Perennial  Flax  have 
assumed  a  new  interest  since  the  writings  of  Mr.  Darwin 
appeared.  He  finds  that  some  of  the  flowers  of  this  species 
have  styles  longer,  and  others  shorter,  than  the  stamens,  and  that 
only  the  pollen  of  one  plant  carried  to  the  flowers  of  the  other 


LINUM  PERENNE. PERENNIAL  FLAX.  II9 

plant  will  enable  it  to  perfect  seed.  Mr.  Darwin  says  the  two 
forms  of  stamens  "  stand  at  different  heights,  so  that  the  pollen 
from  the  anthers  of  the  longer  stamens  will  adhere  to  one  part 
of  an  insect's  body,  and  will  afterwards  be  brushed  off  by  the 
rouo-h  stiemas  of  the  longrer  pistils,  whilst  pollen  from  the 
anthers  of  the  shorter  stamens  will  adhere  to  a  different  part  of 
the  insect's  body,  and  will  afterwards  be  brushed  off  by  the  stig- 
mas of  the  shorter  pistils,  and  this  is  what  is  required  for  the 
legitimate  fertilization  of  both  forms.  We  know  that  its  own 
pollen  is  as  powerless  on  the  stigma  as  so  much  inorganic  dust." 
C  Different  Forms  of  Flowers,"  1877,  p.  98.)  The  plant  from 
which  we  made  our  illustration  has,  however,  been  growing 
separately  and  alone  from  1873  to  1878,  and  has  no  opportunity 
to  receive  pollen  from  other  plants,  but  it  nevertheless  produces 
seeds  in  tolerable  abundance  every  year.  This  shows  that,  while 
in  England  only  cross-fertilization  will  produce  seed,  climatal 
influences  brins:  about  different  results  in  America,  and  the 
whole  indicates  that  much  more  remains  to  be  discovered  about 
the  habits  of  plants,  and  their  "  sources  of  action,"  than  has  yet 
been  found  out.  Dr.  Gray  thinks  the  American  Perennial 
Flax  may  not  be  heterostyled  as  the  Asiatic  form  is,  and  may, 
therefore,  be  a  distinct  species. 

The  Perennial  Flax  affords  much  interest  in  its  flowering. 
The  voung  tips  of  the  flower-shoots  droop  down.  When  the 
buds  are  ready  to  expand,  they  assume  a  perpendicular  position 
during  the  night,  and  by  morning  the  flowers  open,  turning 
towards  the  rising  sun.  Long  before  noon  the  petals  have  per- 
formed their  functions  and  have  withered  away.  Mr.  Darwin 
has  noticed  a  peculiar  twisting  of  the  pistils,  which  places  the 
stio-matic  surface  towards  the  circumference  of  the  flower. 
This,  however,  he  finds  confined  to  the  long-styled  forms.  No 
doubt  many  more  discoveries  of  interest  would  reward  careful 
observers  of  the  behavior  of  this  plant. 

The  specific  name  perenne   indicates  the  most  striking    dis- 
tinction   between    our   species,  and  the   one   which    yields  the 


I  20  LINUM    PERENNE. PERENNIAL    FLAX. 

ordinary  Flax.  This,  however,  is  not  all  the  distinction,  nor 
would  it  be  regarded  as  in  itself  sufficient  for  botanical  science 
to  build  on,  as,  in  the  present  condition  of  botanical  knowledge, 
so  much  importance  is  not  attached  to  slight  variations  as  there 
was  in  old  times.  The  native  country  of  the  common  Flax, 
Linum  usitatissimum,  is  not  known,  and  it  is  not  at  all  im- 
probable that  it  is  only  a  form  selected  and  used  for  cultiva- 
tion. Flax  has  been  grown  for  ages  for  its  fibre,  of  which  fine 
Hnen  fabrics  are  made  ;  and  in  the  twelfth  chapter  of  Genesis, 
we  read  that  Pharaoh  clothed  Joseph  in  fine  linen  ;  and  again, 
in  the  fourth  chapter  of  Exodus,  that,  when  the  plagues  came  on 
the  Egyptians,  the  smiting  of  the  Flax  crops  was  one  of  them. 
The  plant  mentioned  in  the  Bible  was  formerly  supposed  to  be 
identical  with  the  common  Flax;  but  seed-vessels  found  in  old 
bricks  and  similar  material  from  ancient  Egypt  show  that  the 
Egyptian  Flax  was  not  the  L.  usitatissimtLin,  but  rather  L.  aiigiLs- 
tifolmm,  which  is  also  a  perennial  species,  and  scarcely,  if  at  all, 
different  from  our  L.  pereniie.  There  is,  besides,  another  peren- 
nial form,  native  to  Eastern  Asia,  the  L.  pereime  Sibiricum,  also 
scarcely  different ;  and  all  this  renders  it  highly  probable  that 
the  true  Flax  is  a  descendant  of  our  species.  An  additional 
proof  that  it  may  have  had  this  origin  is  the  fact  that  the  com- 
mon Flax  varies  remarkably  in  itself.  At  the  American  Cen- 
tennial Exhibition  in  Philadelphia,  a  great  number  of  varieties 
came  from  Russia  and  Holland,  differincr  as  much  amone  them- 
selves  as  the  whole,  as  a  species  differs  from  our  perennial 
Flax.  The  probable  close  connection  of  our  plant  with  the 
linen  of  the  mummies  and  the  literature  of  the  ancient  people 
will  give  our  plant  a  new  interest  in  the  eyes  of  the  lover  of 
American  wild  flowers. 

Our  plant  seems  first  to  make  its  appearance  near  the  Mexi- 
can boundary,  whence  it  traverses  the  whole  continent  between 
the  Pacific  and  the  Mississippi,  extending  through  its  several 
varieties  to  Europe  and  Asia. 


Vol 


Plate 


Xanthosoma    SAGITTIFOLIA. 


XANTHOSOMA    SAGITTIFOLIA. 

ARROW-LEAVED  SPOONFLOWER. 

NATURAL   ORDER,   ARACE^. 

Xanthosoma  SAGITTIFOLIA,  Schott.  —  Stemless ;  leaves  glaucous,  hastate-cordate,  acuminate, 
the  lobes  oblong,  obtuse  ;  spathe  hooded  at  the  summit,  oval-lanceolate,  white,  longer 
than  the  spadix ;  root  tuberous ;  petioles  twelve  to  fifteen  inches  long ;  leaves  five  to 
seven  inches  long,  the  lobes  somewhat  spreading  and  generally  obtuse  ;  scape  as  long  as 
the  petioles.     (See  Chapman's  Flora  of  the  Soiithei-n  United  States  ) 

ERY  few  persons  who  go  out  to  gather  wild  flowers  will 
return  with  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch,  for  it  is 
one  of  the  scarcest  of  our  native  plants.  The  writer  has  never 
met  with  it  in  a  wild  condition,  and  the  drawing  was  made  from 
a  specimen  kindly  furnished  by  Prof.  C.  S.  Sargent,  of  the 
Cambridge  Botanical  Garden,  Massachusetts.  Dr.  Chapman, 
whose  description  is  here  adopted,  gives  only  two  localities, 
Savannah,  Ga.,  on  the  authority  of  Elliott,  who  was  the  author 
of  an  early  botany  of  South  Carolina ;  and  Wilmington,  S.  C, 
on  the  authority  of  Dr.  Curtis.  It  is  scarcely  likely  to  be  con- 
fined to  these  two  places  ;  but  if  any  other  botanist  has  collected 
it  elsewhere,  it  is  in  no  list  at  our  command.  It  is  not  at  all 
unlikely  to  be  found  in  Florida,  and  perhaps  many  other  places 
South ;  for  these  districts  have  not  yet  been  very  well  explored 
botanically.  But  however  that  may  be,  Xanthosoma  sagittifolia 
is  certainly  not  a  plant  which  had  its  home  originally  in  the 
United  States,  though  it  may  have  been  on  our  soil  for  count- 
less ages.  It  is  more  probable,  on  the  contrary,  that  it  is  a 
wanderer  far  away  from  the  original  centre  of  its  primeval 
being.  It  is  very  abundant  in  the  West  India  Islands,  which, 
in  almost  all  European  botanical  works,  are  mentioned  as  its 


122     XANTHOSOMA    SAGITTIFOLIA,^ — ARROW-LEAVED    SPOONFLOWER. 

only  place  of  nativity;  while  it  is  but  rarely  thought  of  by 
any  European  writer  in  connection  with  the  United  States.  It 
is  also  believed  to  be  a  native  of  China,  where  it  is  extensively 
cultivated. 

Our  plant  is  quite  closely  allied  to  a  very  common  garden 
plant, —  Caladium  esculcnhun,  —  the  "  Tanyah  "  of  the  Southern 
States  ;  and  the  tuberous  roots  of  both  are  of  equal  value.  In 
a  raw  state,  the  roots  of  Xanthosoma,  like  those  of  most  of  the 
AracccF,  are  extremely  acrid,  and  blister  the  mouth  when  brought 
into  contact  with  it ;  but  this  acridity  is  driven  out  by  heat,  and 
when  the  roots  are  cooked,  they  are  very  mealy  and  agreeable, 
and  said  to  be  almost  precisely  like  those  of  Caladiu77i.  In 
China,  we  are  told,  the  leaves  also  are  used,  cut  and  boiled  like 
our  spinach,  and  they  are  said  to  be  an  excellent  vegetable  when 
prepared  in  this  way.  It  may  be  well  to  observe,  for  the  benefit 
of  those  who  may  desire  to  cultivate  the  plant  in  our  country 
for  culinary  purposes,  that,  judging  by  its  probable  central  home, 
it  is  not  likely  to  endure  any  frost ;  but  the  roots  can,  no  doubt, 
be  preserved  in  the  winter  in  any  dry  place  where  the  ther- 
mometer does  not  fall  much  below  forty-five  degrees,  although, 
like  the  Caladmm,  it  seems  naturally  to  be  at  home  in  wet, 
marshy,  or  springy  places. 

To  most  of  our  readers,  however,  the  edibility  of  our 
plant  will  be  but  an  incident.  Its  chief  interest  will  be  in 
its  beauty,  and  the  botanical  lessons  which  it  affords.  The 
resemblance  between  it  and  the  common  Calla  Lily,  Richardia 
y^thiopica,  of  our  gardens,  is  seen  at  a  glance,  and  it  gives  the 
general  appearance  of  being  something  between  that  and  the 
Caladium  before  referred  to.  The  last  named  has  the  flowers 
low  down,  scarcely  rising  above  the  bulb;  while  the  Calla 
Lily  sends  them  above  the  leaves.  Our  plant  has  them 
about  of  equal  height  with  the  leaves,  nearly  in  the  position 
shown  in  the  plate.  The  shape  of  the  leaves,  and  at  the  first 
glance  also  the  flowers,  remind  us  strongly  of  our  common 
garden  plant.     Indeed,  the  differences  in  most  of  the  genera  of 


XANTHOSOMA    SAGITTIKOLIA. ARROW-LEAVED    SPOONFLUWER.      I  23 

AracecB  are  founded  on  characters  that  relate  to  sexual  pecul- 
iarities, and  are  open  to  about  the  same  objections  as  the  sexual 
system  of  Linnaeus,  which  prevailed  before  the  present  natural 
system  of  botany  was  introduced.  Under  the  old  sexual  system 
our  plant  would  have  been  associated  with  an  Orchid,  or  with, 
perhaps,  even  a  Papaw  {Asimma  triloba),  all  on  account  of  the 
peculiar  relations  of  stamens  with  pistils.  Now  those  plants 
which  are  alike  in  general  characters  are  brought  together,  and 
the  order  which  results  —  Aracecs  or  the  Arum  family  in  this 
case  —  is  a  very  natural-looking  one,  which  the  youngest  student 
can  scarcely  fail  to  recognize  ;  but  when  we  come  to  divide 
the  order  into  genera,  we  have  still  to  take  into  consideration 
the  sexual  relations ;  and  the  result  is  that  we  can  hardly 
tell,  when  we  examine  a  plant  of  the  order,  in  which  genus 
to  place  it.  The  spadix  —  the  central  body  —  has  the  flowers 
variously  arranged  over  its  surface,  and  this  is  regarded  as  a 
matter  of  great  importance  in  determining  the  genus.  In 
some  the  spadix  is  quite  naked  at  its  end ;  in  others  it  is 
clothed,  generally  to  the  apex,  and  here  we  find  one  great 
difference  between  the  Calla  Lily  and  our  plant,  for  the  latter 
would  be  placed  in  the  first  section,  while  the  Calla  belongs 
to  the  last.  The  differences  in  structure,  and  the  relations  of 
the  anther  with  the  connective,  are  also  taken  into  consideration 
in  determining  the  genera.  In  one  great  division,  in  which  we 
find  the  true  Arums  and  our  Indian  Turnip,  the  cells  of  the 
anthers  are  larger  than  the  connective;  in  another  in  which  our 
plant  is  found,  they  have  a  very  thick  connective  ;  while  in  the 
section  which  contains  the  Richardia,  they  are  embedded  in 
the  connective,  which  is  very  thick  and  fleshy.  We  see 
by  this  that  plants,  which  must  be  closely  allied  from  their 
natural  appearances,  are  still  almost  as  widely  separated  as 
when  we  were  under  the  sway  of  the  very  defective  sexual 
system.  It  thus  happens  that  plants  of  the  order  Aracecs  are 
given  various  names,  according  to  the  different  views  which 
botanists   take   of  the  value   of   characters.     The   botanists   of 


I  24     XANTHOSOMA    SAGITTIFOLIA. ARROW-LEAVED    SPOONFLOWER. 

the  past  age  would  have  called  our  plant  an  Arum.  In  the 
earlier  part  of  the  present  century,  it  was  regarded  as  a 
Caladium,  and  Nuttall  refers  to  it  in  18 18  as  Caladium  sacritti- 
folium.  Rafinesque,  about  Nuttall's  time,  placed  it  in  his 
genus  Peltandra.  Schott,  in  his  revision  of  Aracecs  in  1832, 
created  the  separate  genus  Xaiithosma ;  and  although  this  is 
not  accepted  by  some  of  the  best  German  botanists,  who  still 
regard  several  of  Schott's  genera  as  identical  with  Caladium, 
the  division  seems  to  be  recognized  by  American  botanists  as  a 
sound  one,  and  we  have  followed  their  judgment  accordingly. 

There  is  a  difference  among  authors  as  to  the  orthography. 
Some  have  it  XantJwsma,  and  others  Xant/iosoma,  —  Greek 
words,  the  first  meaning  "  yellow  odor,"  and  the  second  "  yellow 
body";  but  the  first  is  unintelligible,  and  the  application  of  the 
last  not  apparent.  Dr.  Chapman  has  Xanthosoma  in  the  body 
of  his  work,  and  XantJicsmia  ("yellow  banner")  in  the  index. 
However,  we  must  leave  this  question  to  the  linguists  to  decide, 
and  shall  adopt  Xanthosoma  as  the  name  most  in  favor  with  our 
people.  Sagittifolia  is  from  the  resemblance  of  the  leaves  to  an 
arrow-head. 

The  species  seems  to  have  no  generally  recognized  common 
name,  but  its  local  name  in  North  Carolina,  according  to  a 
communication  from  Dr.  Thos.  F.  Wood,  of  Wilmington,  in 
that  State,  is  Arrow-leaved  Spoonflow^r.  The  same  English 
appellation,  Spoonflower,  was  also  adopted  for  the  genus  by 
Dr.  Curtis,  late  State  botanist  of  North  Carolina,  in  his  "  Cat- 
alogue of  Indigenous   Plants." 

We  have  already  noted  that  the  plant  is  used  as  a  vegetable. 
Dr.  Lindley  tells  us  that  a  starchy  substance,  called  "  chou 
caraib  "  in  the  country  where  it  is  extracted,  is  prepared  from 
the  roots. 


Explanation  of  the  Tlate.  — i.  Expanded  spathe,  showing  the  male  flowers  in  the  centre 
of  the  spadix.  —  2.  Scape,  with  faded  spathe.  —  3.  'I'hc  same,  with  portion  of  the  spathe 
cut  away  to  show  the  position  of  the  immature  fruit  on  the  spadix. 


Vol.  I 


Plate 


Cassandra  '  calyculata. 

L .  Prang  &  Company.  Boston 


CASSANDRA   CALYCULATA. 

LEATHER-LEAF  ;    CASSANDRA. 

NATURAL    ORDER,    ERICACEAE. 

Cassandra  calyculata,  Don.  — Leaves  oblong,  mucronate,  paler  and  scurfy  beneath,  the 
floral  ones  oval ;  flowers  in  the  axils  of  the  upper  leaves,  small,  white  ;  calyx-lobes  ovate, 
acute.  Varies  with  the  leaves  and  calyx-lobes  narrower,  when  it  is  the  Andromeda 
angustifolla  of  Tursh.  (Chapman's  Flora  of  the  Southern  United  States.  See  also  Gray's 
Manual  of  the  Botany  of  the  Southern  United  States,  and  Wood's  Class-Book  of  Botany.) 

HE  natural  order  Ericacecr,  to  which  Cassandra  belongs, 
is  so   called   from   Erica,  or   the  well-known    Heath  of 
Europe  and  the  Cape  of  Good   Hope.     It  was  for  a  long  time 
believed  that  no  true  Heath  was  a  native  of  the  American  con- 
tinent.    A  distinguished  botanist  of  the  past  age,  Barton,  wrote : 
"  Not  a  single  species  of  Erica  is  to  be  met  with  in  this  great 
country;    but    in  place  of  the  'blooming  heather,'  Nature  has 
liberally  supplied  our  country  with  various  species  of  Andromeda, 
Vaccinium,  etc.,  not  to  mention  other  genera  which  are  nearly 
allied  to  Erica','     Since  Barton's  time,  however,  one  true  Heath 
has  been  discovered  in  the   Northeast  in  a  very  few  localities ; 
but  it  is  so  rare  that  Barton's  remark  may  be  accepted  as  prac- 
ticaUy  correct.     The  species  now  called  Cassandra,  as  well  as 
several  other  grenera,  were  all  included  in  Andromeda  in  Barton's 
time;  but  in  1834,  this  latter  genus  was  rearranged  by  D.  Don. 
Those,  therefore,  who  wish  to  examine  closely  the  literature  of 
our  plant  will  have  to  look  for  it  under  the  name  of  Andromeda 
calyciilata  in  all  works  issued  prior  to  the  date  just  mentioned. 
Don's  divisions  are  generally  accepted  now  by  botanists,  although 
some  of  them  have  very  few  species.     \\\  the  case  of  our  plant, 
there  is  but  the  single  one,  although  two  are  generally  described 


126       CASSANDRA    CALICULATA. LEATHER-LEAF;    CASSANDRA 


in  European  works ;  but  it  will  be  seen  by  the  description  we 
have  adopted  at  the  head  of  our  chapter  from  Chapman,  that 
American  botanists  regard  the  two  as  one, 

Cassandra  differs  from  the  true  Androinedas,  particularly  in 
the  stiormas  and  in  the  anther-cells.  These  cells  are  elono-ated 
in  Cassandra,  but  are  short  in  Androtncda,  which  latter  also 
has  a  truncated  stigma,  while  the  stigma  of  Cassandra  is  ring- 
like, with  a  five-tubercled  disk.  There  are  other  differences; 
and  a  very  striking  one  is  the  absence  of  small  bractlets  under 
the  regular,  five-cleft  calyx  in  Andromeda,  while  there  are  con- 
stantly two  under  the  calyx  of  Cassandra. 

As  the  early  history  of  Cassandra  is  connected  with  Andro- 
meda, we  may  as  well  stop  here  to  say  a  few  words  about  the 
latter  name.  Andromeda,  as  Grecian  mythology  informs  us, 
was  the  daughter  of  King  Cepheus,  of  Ethiopia.  Being  proud 
of  her  beauty,  she  boasted  that  she  was  handsomer  than  even 
the  Nereids,  whereat  these  envious  damsels  became  so  enraged 
that  they  petitioned  Neptune  to  avenge  their  wounded  feelings. 
The  god  accordingly  not  only  devastated  the  realms  of  Cepheus 
by  inundations,  but  also  sent  a  terrible  sea-monster,  which 
devoured  men  and  beasts  indiscriminately.  The  oracle  of 
Ammon  having  announced  that  these  plagues  would  not  cease 
until  the  offender  had  been  thrown  to  the  monster,  the  people 
compelled  their  king  to  chain  his  daughter  to  a  rock  on  the  sea- 
coast.  In  this  situation  Perseus,  who  had  just  cut  off  the  head 
of  the  Medusa,  found  Andromeda,  and  of  course  delivered  and 
afterwards  married  her. 

The  great  Swedish  naturalist,  Linnaeus,  came  across  a  plant, 
in  the  wilds  of  Lapland,  growing  under  circumstances  which 
suggested  this  ancient  story  to  his  mind,  and  he  accordingly 
named  it  Andromeda  polifolia.  Anything  connected  with  Lin- 
naeus always  pleases  those  who  love  wild  flowers  ;  and  in  this 
anecdote,  especially,  we  seem  to  be  made  a  sharer  of  his  own 
thoughts,  and  are  given  an  insight  into  his  deeper  nature  which 
few  other  anecdotes  afford.     It  shows  him  as  a  man  of  fine, 


CASSANDRA    CALYCULATA. LEATHER-LEAF;    CASSANDRA.       I  27 

poetic  feelings  amidst  all  the  details  of  science,  which  to  some 
people  seem  to  be  intolerably  dry,  and  mere  matters  of  fact. 
Whenever  we  look  at  our  pretty  Cassandra,  this  incident  in  the 
life  of  Linnasus  is  recalled  to  our  mind  by  association  with  the 
earlier  name  of  the  plant,  and  we  are  tempted  to  invest  the 
incident  itself  with  a  personality,  and  say  in  the  language  of 
Campbell :  — 

"  I  love  you  for  lulling  me  back  into  dreams 
Of  the  blue  northern  mountains  and  echoing  streams, 

And  of  birchen  glades  breathing  their  balm, 
While  the  deer  was  seen  glancing  in  sunshine  remote. 
And  the  deep,  mellow  crush  of  the  wood-pigeon's  note 

Made  music  that  sweetened  the  calm." 

When  Don  divided  the  botanical  genus  Andromeda,  as  before 
mentioned,  he  gave  to  our  plant  the  name  of  Cassandra,  still  fol- 
lowing up  the  fancy  so  prettily  started  by  Linnaeus.  According 
to  Greek  mythology,  Cassandra  was  the  daughter  of  Priam,  the 
last  king  of  Troy,  by  Hecuba,  one  of  his  wives,  —  for  the  old 
man  was  a  bad  polygamist,  —  and  the  literal  meaning  of  the 
name  is  said  to  be,  "  She  who  inflames  with  love."  The 
original  Cassandra  is  described  as  a  prophetess,  or  perhaps  a 
poetess,  —  little  distinction  being  made  between  the  two  in  those 
days,  —  and  her  connection  with  the  tragic  fate  of  Agamem- 
non will  be  remembered  by  all.  But  there  appears  to  be  no 
special  reason  for  giving  the  name  of  Cassandra  to  this  par- 
ticular plant,  beyond  the  desire  to  adhere  to  the  mythological 
nomenclature  suggested  by  Linnsus. 

Our  plant  is  often  in  flower  before  the  snows  have  fairly 
gone.  Indeed,  it  is  not  difficult  for  it  to  do  this,  as  the  flower- 
buds  are  well  advanced  before  the  winter  sets  in,  as  shown 
by  our  Fig.  i,  which  was  drawn  from  a  specimen  gathered  in 
December.  A  few  days  of  warm  sunshine  are  sufficient  to 
develop  the  flowers  to  perfection. 

The  leaves  of  Cassandra  calyculata  are  very  interesting  when 
placed  under  a  lens.     The  numerous  small  veins  make  a  sort  of 


128       CASSANDRA    CALYCULATA. LEATHER-LEAF!    CASSANDRA. 

net,  or  rather  lace-work,  of  great  beauty,  and  on  these  Httle 
veins  are  seen  small  resinous  dots  in  great  numbers,  generally 
three  or  four  times  more  numerous  on  the  under  than  on  the 
upper  surface.  It  is  not  known  whether  they  are  of  any  advan- 
tage to  the  plant  as  an  individual,  or  whether  they  are  simply  of 
use  in  that  general  order  of  nature  which  makes  all  things  work 
together  for  good.  The  plant  is  an  evergreen,  though  with  the 
incoming  of  winter  the  lower  leaves  take  on  the  roseate  hue 
depicted  in  our  plate.  As  the  pretty  little  waxen-white  flowers 
become  perfectly  developed,  they  droop  upon  their  delicately 
slender  stems,  and  make  a  pretty  wand-like  spray,  which  is  really 
beautiful,  and  well  worthy  of  study  by  the  devotees  of  art.  In 
very  delicate  ornamentation,  as  in  the  more  precious  metals, 
there  are  many  opportunities  for  using  our  plant  as  a  model  to 
great  advantage.  Even  dried  specimens,  provided  they  have  been 
dried  rapidly,  and  under  great  pressure,  can  be  so  arranged  as  to 
form  very  pretty  wreath-frames  for  enclosing  shells,  or  similar 
mementos,   or    can   be   made  into  ornaments  of    various  other 

kinds. 

Dr.  Gray  gives  our  plant  the  common  name  of  "  Leather- 
leaf,"  but  we  find  no  reason  anywhere  given  for  this  name.  Its 
botanical  name,  Cassandra,  ought  to  be  pretty  enough  to  insure 
general  adoption. 

The  Cassandra  is  a  native  of  Northern  Europe  and  Asia,  as 
well  as  the  United  States,  but  it  is  remarkable  that,  while  it  is 
rather  common  from  Canada  to  North  Carolina,  it  is  not  found 
west  of  the  Mississippi  River.  It  is  extremely  common  in  the 
barrens  of  New  Jersey,  whence  we  drew  our  illustration. 


Explanation  of  the  Plate. —  i.     Branch  with  buds  hi  December.  —  2.     Branch  in  flower 
in  March. 


v-.n.      1 


3AGITTATA. 


VIOLA  SAG n  TATA. 

ARROW- LEAVED  VIOLET. 

NATURAL   ORDER,   VIOLACE^. 

Vioi.A  SAGITTATA,  Alton.  —  Smoothish  Or  hairy ;  leaves  on  short  and  margined,  or  the  later 
often  on  long  and  naked  petioles,  varying  from  oblong  heart-shaped  to  halberd-shaped, 
arrow-shaped,  oblong-lanceolate  or  ovate,  denticulate,  sometimes  cut-toothed  near  the 
base;  the  lateral,  or  occasionally  all  the  (pretty  large  purple-blue)  petals  bearded ;  spur 
short  and  thick ;  stigma  beaked.  (Gray's  Manual  of  the  Botany  of  the  Northern  United 
States.  See  also  Chapman's  Flora  of  the  Southern  United  States,  and  Wood's  Class-Book 
of  Botany.) 

lOLETS  have  always  been  associated  with  our  ideas  of 
early  spring.  There  is  scarcely  a  poet  who  thinks  of 
spring  but  refers  to  the  Violets  in  connection  therewith.  Says 
Mrs.  Southey  :  — 

"  Spring,  summer,  autumn  !     Of  all  three, 

Whose  reign  is  loveliest  there  ? 
Oh  !  is  not  she  who  paints  the  ground, 
When  its  frost  fetters  are  unbound, 

The  fairest  of  the  fair  ? 

"  I  gaze  upon  her  violet  beds, 

Laburnums  golden-tress'd, 
Her  flower-spiked  almonds  ;  breathe  jDcrfume 
From  lilac  and  syringa  bloom, 

And  cry,  '  I  love  spring  best ! '  " 

Shakespeare,  in  making  the  Duchess  of  Gloster  congratulate 
her  son  Aumerle  on  his  being  created  Duke  of  Rutland,  puts 
these  words  into  her  mouth  :  — 

"  Welcome,  my  son  !     Who  are  the  violets  now 
That  strew  the  green  lap  of  the  new-come  sprin 


.  5  " 


I  30  VIOLA    SAGITTATA. ARROW-LEAVED    VIOLET. 

And  similar  allusions  to  the  Violet,  as  one  of  the  earliest  of 
spring  flowers,  are  very  common  in  the  writings  of  the  best 
authors.  Of  course  these  passages  refer  to  the  Violet  of  the 
Old  World,  which  is  not  a  native  of  the  United  States;  but  most 
of  the  poetic  associations  with  the  classic  Violet  are  applicable 
to  many  of  our  own  species.  As  regards  earliness,  our  present 
species  may  well  claim  to  be  admitted  as  a  contestant.  The 
Viola  nicitllata,  or  Common  Blue  Violet,  has  earned  the  popular 
name  of  "  Early  Blue  Violet,"  but  it  Is  questionable  whether  in 
a  close  average,  drawn  under  equal  circumstances,  the  Arrow- 
leaved  Violet  would  not  be  awarded  the  palm.  In  the  vicinity 
of  Philadelphia,  it  particularly  delights  to  grow  on  the  dry 
slopes  formed  by  decaying  rocks  of  mica  schist,  and  It  is  but 
seldom  that  those  who  go  out  to  gather  wild  flowers  after  a 
few  warm  days  at  the  end  of  March,  or  early  in  April,  and 
who  visit  these  sunny,  sheltered  spots,  return  without  at  least 
a  few  Arrow-leaved  Violets.  Besides  being  early,  it  Is  also 
continuous.  Our  drawing  was  made  from  a  specimen  gathered 
near  Philadelphia  in  May.  The  flowers  often  grow  larger  than 
those  we  have  chosen  for  Illustration,  and  In  the  richness  of  their 
blue  probably  exceed  those  of  all  our  other  species  of  violets. 

One  might  suppose,  from  the  name  "  Arrow-leaved  Violet," 
that  the  leaves  would  afford  a  fair,  distinctive  mark;  but 
these  organs  often  resemble  a  spoon  as  much  as  an  arrow- 
head, and  there  are,  Indeed,  some  other  species  which  have 
sagittate  leaves  more  frequently  than  this  one.  Again,  the 
leaves  are  often  very  hairy,  and  this  Is  especially  the  case  In 
plants  growing  on  high,  dry  ground,  while  in  damp  situations 
the  leaves  are  generally  quite  smooth.  Indeed,  in  most  plants 
the  form,  or  the  hairiness  of  leaves  is  not  relied  on  now  as  an 
exact  character  In  determining  species ;  but  these  points  are 
useful.  In  connection  with  other  characters,  if  we  do  not  for-, 
get  that  they  are  variable.  Although  the  leaves  are  not  always 
like  an  arrow-head,  the  base  Is  generally  abruptly  drawn  in  to 
form  the  petiole,  —  more  so  than  in  the  other  species  one  is 


VIOLA    SAGITTATA. ARROW-LEAVED   VIOLET,  I3I 

likely  to  meet  with  in  the  early  spring  season,  —  and  the  flower- 
stems  have  generally  an  erect  habit,  and  extend  above  the  leaves, 
while  the  Common  Blue  Violet,  with  which  the  Arrow-leaved 
Violet  is  most  likely  to  be  confounded  by  beginners  in  collect- 
ine,  has  the  flower-stalks  shorter  than  the  leaves. 
Though  the  Violet  is  essentially  a  spring  flower,  — 

"The  youth  of  primy  Nature, 
Forward,  not  permanent ;  sweet,  not  lasting ! 
The  perfume  and  suppliance  of  a  minute, 
No  more," 

as  Laertes  tells  us  in  "  Hamlet,"  it  by  no  means  ceases  to  bloom 
in  a  certain  way,  but  continues  to  produce  seed-vessels  during 
most  of  the  summer  season.  The  flowers  which  appear  in 
early  spring  are  complete,  that  is  to  say,  they  have  not  only  the 
organs  of  generation,  but  the  petals  are  also  perfectly  developed, 
while  those  which  are  of  later  growth  produce  seeds  from  apeta- 
lous  buds,  often  under  ground,  and  are  called  "  cleistogamic." 
Althouo-h  the  name  for  this  kind  of  flower  is  new,  the  fact  of 
their  existence  has  been  known  for  many  years.  Salmon,  a 
writer  in  the  time  of  Queen  Anne,  nearly  two  hundred  years  ago, 
says :  "  The  flower  of  the  Violet  consists  of  five  leaves,  with  a 
short  tail.  After  these,  come  forth  round  seed-vessels,  standing 
likewise  on  their  short  footstalks,  in  which  is  contained  round 
white  seed  ;  but  these  heads  rise  out  from  the  stalks  on  which 
the  flowers  grew  (as  is  usual  in  all  other  plants),  but  apart  by 
themselves,  and  being  sown,  will  produce  others  like  unto  itself." 
It  is  quite  probable  that  it  was  in  the  Violets  that  this  strange 
peculiarity  was  first  noticed ;  but  within  the  past  twenty  years, 
quite  a  large  list  of  plants  with  these  interesting  flowers  has 
been  made  out.  The  whole  subject  has  become  one  of  deep 
study  since  the  writings  of  Mr.  Darwin  appeared.  It  is  sup- 
posed that  the  colors  of  flowers  have  the  purpose  of  attracting 
insects,  so  that  pollen  may  be  brought  to  one  plant  from 
another ;  but  the  complete  flowers  of  the  Violet  seem  rarely  to 


132  VIOLA    SAGITTATA. ARROW-LEAVED    VIOLET. 

produce  seed.  Prof.  Goodale  says  in  his  "  Wild  Flowers  "  that  the 
Viola  sagittata  was  never  known  by  him  to  have  seeds  from 
the  complete  flowers,  nor  does  the  writer  of  this  remember  to 
have  seen  any.  The  same 'thing,  however,  has  been  believed  in 
relation  to  some  English  species ;  but  Mr.  Darwin  says  it  is  a 
mistake,  as  he  has  seen  some  fruit  in  a  few  cases. 

Another  very  interesting  observation  has  been  made  in  con- 
nection with  the  scattering  of  the  seeds.  The  capsule  is  three- 
valved,  and  when  the  seed  has  matured  in  all  the  valves,  the  lat- 
ter contract,  pressing  the  grains  of  seed,  which  then  fly  out  as  a 
bean  flies  from  between  the  fingers  when  pinched.  There  is 
a  popular  prejudice  in  some  parts  of  England  that  the  Violet 
"  breeds  fleas,"  and  this,  no  doubt,  originated  from  the  brown 
seeds  being  ejected  in  the  way  described.  The  seeds  are  about 
the  size  of  a  flea,  and  any  one  not  looking  close  enough  at  the 
plant  to  notice  the  seeds  as  they  are  ejected,  would  be  very 
likely  to  take  the  "  jumping  creature  "  for  a  veritable  flea. 

So  far  as  our  observation  extends,  the  Arrow-leaved  Violet 
grows  in  the  Northern  States,  in  open  fields  or  hillsides,  in 
rather  dry  places  ;  but  as  we  go  South,  it  seems  to  prefer  damp 
situations.  The  place  of  growth  seems  in  some  measure  to 
influence  its  character.  Dr.  Willis  says,  in  his  "  Catalogue  of 
New  Jersey  Plants,"  that  it  is  generally  "  slightly  pubescent 
(hairy  or  downy)  when  growing  in  dry  soil,  and  entirely  smooth 
when  growing  in  damp  places."  Situation  and  external  cir- 
cumstances often  influence  form,  but  frequently  there  are  laws 
which  cause  changes  quite  independent  of  anything  external. 

Violets  abound  in  our  country,  but  yet  the  individual  species 
have  a  circumscribed  limit  in  many  instances.  Thus  Chapman 
says  of  the  species  to  which  this  article  is  devoted,  that  within 
the  area  covered  by  his  "  Flora  of  the  Southern  United  States" 
it  is  chiefly  confined  to  the  upper  districts.  Its  chief  territory 
seems  to  be  Canada  and  the  more  northern  Atlantic  States, 
and  from  there  west  to  Michigan,  sweeping  thence  southerly  to 
Arkansas  and  Florida. 


Plate  34-. 


GERARDIA    PEDICULARIA. 

FERN-LEAVED  FALSE  FOXGLOVIC. 

NATURAL   ORDER,    SCROPIIULARIACETl':. 

C.ERARDIA  PEDICULARIA,  L. —  Smoothish  or  liubescent,  much  branched,  two  to  three  feet 
high,  very  leafy;  calyx  five-cleft,  the  lobes  often  toothed;  corolla  yellow;  the  tube 
elongated,  woolly  inside,  as  well  as  the  anthers  and  filaments  ;  anthers  all  alike,  scarcely 
included,  the  cells  awn-pointed  at  the  base  ;  leaves  ovate-lanceolate,  pinnatifid,  and  the 
lobes  cut  and  toothed;  peduncles  longer  than  the  hairy,  mostly  serrate  calyx-lobes. 
(Gray's  Manual  of  the  Botany  of  the  Northern  United  States.  See  also  Chapman's  Flora 
of  the  Southern  United  States,  and  Wood's  Class-Book  of  Botany!) 

HE  eenus  Gerardia  is  so  named  in  honor  of  one  of  the 
most  celebrated  EngUsh  botanists,  who,  as  "  Gerarde 
the  HerbaHst,"  is  constantly  referred  to  in  both  botanical  and 
horticultural  works.  To  a  certain  extent,  Gerarde  may  be 
regarded  as  the  Linnceus  of  the  sixteenth  century,  and  the  great 
Swede  recognized  the  services  which  his  English  predecessor 
had  rendered  to  botany,  by  dedicating  a  genus  to  him  when  he 
recast  the  genera  of  plants  according  to  the  system  afterwards 
known  as  the  Linnaean.  What  the  particular  thought  was  in 
the  mind  of  Linnaeus,  which  induced  him  to  perpetuate  the 
old  English  author's  name  by  attaching  it  to  a  genus  so  com- 
pletely American,  does  not  appear.  Modern  botanists  have 
made  attempts  to  deprive  him  of  some  of  his  honors ;  and 
Rafinesque,  whom  Dr.  Baldwin,  in  his  correspondence  with  Dr. 
Darlington,  styles  a  "literary  madman,"  endeavored  to  make 
several  eenera  out  of  Gerardia.  He  calls  some  of  them  Dasan- 
thera,  others  Dasystoma,  others  Eugcrardla,  and  others,  again, 
Pagesia.  Some  botanists  still  retain  these  names.  Dr.  Gray, 
however,  whom   we    have    credited    with    our    leading    descrip- 


I  34       GERARDIA  PEDICULARIA. FERN-LEAVED  FALSE  FOXGLOVE. 

tlon,  does  not  regard  the  characters  which  Rafinesque  took  as 
o-cneric  to  be  of  sufficient  importance  to  divide  the  genus 
cstabhshed  by  Linnaeus,  although  he  retains  some  as  of  sec- 
tional value.  Thus  our  plant,  in  Chapman's  "Southern  Flora" 
and  in  Wood's  "  Class-Book,"  is  classed  as  D asy stoma  pcdic2iIaiHa, 
but  in  Gray's  "  Manual "  it  is  Gcrardia  pcdicularia,  in  section 
Dasystoma.  Dasystoma  seems  to  be  from  the  Greek  dasys, 
thick,  and  stoma,  a  mouth  ;  but  unless  it  be  that  the  corolla  is 
o-enerally  of  a  thicker  texture  in  the  species  classed  as  Dasys- 
toma than  in  those  placed  in  the  other  sections,  it  is  difficult  to 
guess  at  the  application.  Dasystoma  includes  all  the  perennial 
Gcrardias. 

The  Gcrardias  are  said  to  be  more  or  less  parasitic  on  the 
roots  of  other  plants ;  but  we  have  been  unable  to  find  any  clear 
evidence  of  the  fact  in  any  personal  examination,  or  to  find  the 
full  proof  of  it  in  any  published  account.     All  that  we  have 
read  on  the  subject  seemed  to  leave  room  for  further  observa- 
tions.    One  of  the  reasons  given  is  that  no  attempts  to  cultivate 
it  have  been  successful ;  but  then  the  same  Is  said  of  the  Trail- 
ing Arbutus,  —  Epigcsa  rcpens,  —  which  no  one  pretends  is  a 
parasite.     Johnson,  an  English  writer,  tells  us  that  "  Gcrardia 
pcdictdaria  was  introduced  into  England  In  1S26,  and  all  the 
l^erennial  species  can  be  raised  from  cuttings  as  well  as  by  seed, 
and  G.  qucrcifolia  (a  closely  related  species  to  G.  pcdicidaria)  by 
dividing  the   rootstocks   In   spring."      If  this    Is    the   result   of 
actual  observation,  and  not  merely  assumed  because  It  Is  the 
case  with  perennials  in  general,  it  would  seem  to  be  established 
that   the    Gcrardias   can   be   grown   In   gardens.     Mr.    Thomas 
Moore,    however,  of  the    Chelsea    Botanical   Garden,   London, 
and  one  of  the  best  of  English  practical  writers,  remarks  of  the 
whole  family  of  Gcrardias  that  "  all  attempts  to  cultivate  them 
in  Endand  have  failed."     But  It  would  be  well  worth  while  to 
try  them  again.      There  certainly  arc  large  numbers  of  roots  on 
our  plant  which  have  no  attachment  to  other  plants,  and  which 
must  derive  nutrition  directly  from  the  soil.     In  the  specimen 


GERARDIA  PEDICULARIA.  ^  FERN-LEAVED  FALSE  FOXGLOVE.        I  35 

taken  up  for  our  illustration,  a  number  of  the  rootlets  had  small 
cellular  granules  at  the  end,  and  it  is  just  possible  that  these  are 
intended  for  attachment  and  suction  on  roots  with  which  they 
may  come  in  contact. 

An  interesting  observation  in  connection  with  Gcrardia pedi- 
culai^ia,  and  the  visits  of  bees  to  its  flowers,  has  been  placed  on 
record,  in  the  "  Bulletin  of  the  Torrey  Botanical  Club  "  for  1S71, 
by  Mr.  W.  W.  Bailey,  of  Providence,  R.  I.  He  found  that  the 
bumblebees  visited  the  flowers  in  great  numbers ;  but  instead  of 
entering  the  flowers  by  their  mouths  for  the  nectar,  they  rested 
on  the  upper  surface,  and  then  cut  a  slit,  near  the  base,  through 
which  they  sipped  their  sweets.  They  do  this  in  the  petunia, 
the  red  clover,  the  wistaria,  and  indeed  in  a  large  number  of 
other  cases  in  which  it  is  clearly  seen  that  it  is  difficult  for 
them  to  enter  by  the  regular  "  door  "  of  the  flower ;  but  as  the 
mouth  of  the  flower  of  Gerardia  is  so  large,  it  would  seem  more 
convenient  for  the  bees  to  enter  by  it  than  to  take  the  trouble 
of  making  a  slit ;  and  this  is  the  point  of  Mr.  Bailey's  observa- 
tion. But  it  is  evident  that  it  is  easier  for  the  bee  to  stand  on 
the  flower  and  cut  it,  which  it  can  do  without  effort,  than  to 
sustain  itself  on  the  lower  part  of  the  mouth  and  thrust  its 
head  down  the  throat,  and  it  is  only  reasonable  to  suppose  that 
insects  have  the  power,  to  a  certain  extent,  of  finding  out  the 
easiest  ways  of  doing  things. 

The  flowers  have  a  deliciously  sweet  odor,  which  makes 
them  very  attractive  to  the  wild-flower  gatherer;  but  they 
are  poor  material  for  bouquets,  as  they  wither  very  rapidly 
after  gathering.  It  is  remarkable,  also,  that,  in  drying 
specimens  for  the  herbarium,  is  is  almost  impossible  to  pre- 
serve the  green  color.  They  invariably  turn  black,  even  with 
the  greatest  care. 

"  The  foxgloves  and  the  fern, 
How  gracefully  they  grow, 
With  grand,  old  oaks  above  them 
And  wavy  grass  below  !  " 


I  36       GERARDIA  PEDICULARIA. FERN-LEAVED  FALSE  FOXGLOVE. 

These  lines  of  the-  poet  were  particularly  appropriate  to  the 
locality,  near  Philadelphia,  where  we  gathered  the  specimen  of 
False  Foxirlove  which  served  as  the  origrinal  for  our  illustration. 
It  was  in  a  piece  of  rather  open  wood,  where  the  "grand  old 
oaks  "  of  the  red,  scarlet,  and  white  species  waved  their  branches 
above,  while,  somewhat  lower  down,  on  ground  that  was  a  little 
more  moist,  grew  the  cinnamon  fern  and  numerous  sedges, 
which  latter  might  have  been  taken  for  the  "  wavy  grass 
below."  The  Fern-leaved  False  Foxglove  generally  grows  in 
situations  like  the  one  just  described  in  Pennsylvania,  in  which 
State  it  finds  itself  very  much  at  home,  being,  perhaps,  the  most 
common  of  the  perennial  species.  Dr.  Gray,  in  his  "  Manual 
of  Botany,"  speaks  of  it  as  being  "  common  in  dry  copses."  In 
New  Jersey  it  seems  to  be  found  in  more  open  places,  and,  ac- 
cording to  Chapman,  it  appears  to  occur  in  similar  locations  in 
dry,  sandy  soil. 

Gerardias  in  general  seem  to  be  confined  to  the  Atlantic 
States,  although  some  of  the  annual  species  are  found  beyond 
the  Mississippi.  Our  False  Foxglove,  however,  keeps  to  the 
east  of  this  river,  where  it  is  found,  we  believe,  in  all  the  States 
of  the  Union  from  Canada  to  Florida. 

The  \\2ivi\e.  pedicularia  was  suggested  by  the  great  resemblance 
of  the  root-leaves  to  the  Pcdicularis.  Our  plant  has  had  no 
common  name  given  to  it  that  we  know  of,  and  we  have,  there- 
fore, ventured  to  call  it  the  "  Fern-leaved  False  Foxglove." 

It  blooms  in  August,  and  from  its  branching  character  keeps 
a  long  while  in  flower. 

Explanation  of  the  Plate.  —  i.  Part  of  the  panicle.  —  2.  Stamen,  showing  the  awned 
anther  cells.  —  3.  Seed-vessel  and  leafy  calyx  divisions.  — 4.  Root,  with  granular-tipped 
rootlets. 


Vol 


Plate 


r 


ALOCHORTUS     LUTEUS. 


L  Prang  a.-  Company.  Boston 


CALOCHORTUS    LUTEUS. 

YELLOW  PRETTY-GRASS. 

NATURAL   ORDER,  LILIACE^. 

Calochortus  LUTEUS,  Douglas.  —  Stem  about  three-flowered;  leaves  convolute-acuminate, 
shorter  than  the  slender  peduncles;  sepals  oblong,  pointed,  and  recurved  at  the  apex, 
scarcely  shorter  than  the  petals,  yellow ;  petals  yellow,  broadly  cuneate,  rounded  at  the 
apex,  bearded  across  the  base,  a  roundish,  red  spot  near  the  middle  ;  anthers  as  long  as 
the  filaments ;  capsule  elliptical ;  May.  (Prof.  Wood,  in  Proceedings  of  the  Academy  of 
Natural  Sciences,  iS68,  p.  169.) 

E  have  in  Calochortus  one  of  the  most  interesting  genera 
of  plants  growing  on  the  American  continent.  It  was 
only  in  the  beginning  of  the  present  century  that  the  first  species 
was  discovered  by  Frederick  Pursh,  a  Siberian  botanist,  who  came 
to  Philadelphia  in  1 799,  and  was  gardener  to  W.  Hamilton,  whose 
grounds  are  now  the  Woodland's  Cemetery  of  that  city.  Pursh 
was  a  very  intelligent  man,  and  made  numerous  excursions  into 
various  parts  of  the  country.  The  plants  collected  by  him  during 
these  excursions  afterwards  formed  the  foundation  of  his  "  Flora 
of  North  America,"  a  work  published  in  London  in  18 14,  in  which 
the  genus  Calochorhis  is  first  described.  The  species  he  discov- 
ered, C.  elegans,  was  found,  according  to  his  statement,  in  what 
was  then  the  great  Louisiana  Territory.  No  species  has  ever  been 
seen  growing  wild  this  side  of  the  Mississippi,  the  numerous  ones 
that  have  been  discovered  since  Pursh 's  time  being  native  to  the 
country  between  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  the  shores  of  the  Pa- 
cific. A  few  are  found  in  Mexico,  and  others  extend  northward 
to  Oregon.  New  species  continue,  at  the  date  of  this  writing, 
to  be  discovered  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States,  so  that 
the  exact  range  of  the  genus  is  not  yet  determined. 


138  CALOCHORTUS     LUTEUS. YELLOW    PRETTY-GRASS. 

Although  Calochorhis  is  exclusively  American,  it  is  yet  not 
distantly  connected  with  the  tulip  of  the  Old  World,  and  is  also 
closely  related  to  the  Erythronium,  Fritillaria,  and  some  other 
American  genera,  with  which  it  unites  in  giving  interest  to  the 
great  tribe  of  Tulipccr.  One  striking  difference  from  any  of 
its  allies,  however,  will  be  noted  by  the  most  casual  observer. 
The  flower-cup  of  the  common  tulip  seems  to  be  formed  of  six 
petals ;  but  in  reality,  three  of  these  apparent  petals  are  sepals, 
for  the  flower  is  formed  on  a  ternary  plan.  The  sepals  are, 
however,  so  petal-like  that  there  seems  to  be  no  calyx  in  the 
ordinary  sense  of  the  term.  In  Calochortus,  however,  there  is 
seen  to  be  an  approach  to  the  general  condition  of  a  complete 
flower.  The  three  outer  leaves  or  sepals,  although  still  colored 
somewhat  as  the  petals  are,  as  we  see  in  our  full-face  view, 
Fig.  2,  are  so  much  smaller  than  the  inner  ones  forming  the 
corolla  that  no  one  would  have  any  difficulty  in  at  once  decid- 
ing the  distinctness  of  the  two  series  of  floral  envelopes.  This 
observation  is  particularly  worthy  of  the  attention  of  students 
interested  in  a  comparison  of  structure ;  for  with  this  separation 
of  the  calycine  from  the  corolline  system,  we  see  that  Calochortus 
approaches  another  order,  of  which  our  Tradcscantia,  or  Spider- 
wort,  is  a  familiar  example.  The  glaucous,  sub-fleshy  leaves 
of  most  of  the  species  of  the  two  families  also  somewhat  resem- 
ble each  other  in  character,  and  the  tendency  to  the  production 
of  silky  hairs  in  the  stamens  of  Tradescantia  finds  some  parallel 
in  the  tufty  hairs  often  produced  on  the  petals  of  Calochortus. 
These  characters  are,  however,  mere  appearances,  and  would 
not  weigh  much  in  regular  systematic  botany ;  but  they  will  be 
of  some  value  to  our  readers,  many  of  whom  are  interested  in 
the  general  tendency  of  relationship,  as  well  as  in  the  more 
exact  studies. 

The  name  Calochorhis  is  from  the  Greek  kalos,  pretty,  and 
chortus,  grass.  The  leaves  of  most  of  the  species  have  a  grassy 
appearance ;  and  in  view  of  the  beautiful  flowers  on  so  grass- 
like a  plant,  when  the  real   grasses   have   no   such   beauty,  the 


CALOCHORTUS     LUTEUS. YELLOW    PRETTY-GRASS.  I  39 

name  is  a  very  appropriate  one.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the 
translation  of  this  name,  "  Pretty-Grass,"  did  not  become  part 
of  the  language  of  the  people ;  but  "  Butterfly  Weed,"  "  Mari- 
posa Lily,"  and  "  Wild  Tulip "  have  become  so  common  in 
California,  that  there  seems  to  be  hardly  any  chance  for  the 
plant  ever  to  get  a  distinctive  appellation  of  its  own.  In  the 
hope,  however,  that  Pretty-Grass  may  yet  become  popular,  we 
shall  use  this  name  in  our  present  chapter. 

Calochortus  luteus,  the  Yellow  Pretty-Grass,  was  first  dis- 
covered by  Mr.  Douglas,  who,  in  1831,  collected  in  California 
for  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society;  and  in  the  society's  garden 
at  Chiswick,  near  London,  it  flowered  about  the  year  named. 

As  Professor  Wood  says,  in  the  description  we  have  quoted, 
it  has  generally  three  flowers  on  a  stalk ;  but  as  it  sometimes 
comes  with  but  a  single  flower,  it  will  serve  a  good  purpose  to 
illustrate  a  plant  in  that  condition,  as  showing  the  range  of  vari- 
ation. It  will  also  be  seen,  by  reference  to  the  plate,  that  our 
plant  varies  in  another  particular  from  Prof.  Wood's  description, 
the  red  spot  being,  not  in  the  middle,  but  rather  lower  down  on 
the  petals.  Our  drawing  is  from  a  cultivated  specimen,  brought 
from  California  by  Mr.  Edwin  Lonsdale,  of  Germantown. 

It  has  been  a  matter  of  surprise  that  so  pretty  a  flower,  intro- 
duced to  Europe  under  the  auspices  of  its  leading  horticultural 
society,  should  be  so  rarely  met  with  in  cultivation.  But  this  is 
chiefly  owing,  perhaps,  to  the  necessity  of  importing  roots  direct; 
for  according  to  our  experience  in  raising  the  plants  from  seed, 
it  must  often  take  many  years  to  procure  flowering  bulbs  in  that 
way.  Seeds  that  we  have  sown  only  made  bulbs  the  size  of 
grains  of  wheat  the  first  season  ;  and  though  these  bulbs  pro- 
duced leaves  annually,  they  had  not  much  increased  in  size  after 
several  years.  We  have  heard  of  one  grower,  who  soon  had 
flowering  bulbs  from  seed,  but  we  think  this  success  must  be  rare. 
Another  difficulty  is  this,  that  the  roots  do  not  seem  to  increase 
rapidly  by  offsets,  as  some  bulbs  do.  The  plant  from  which  we 
took  our  drawing  made  but  two  small  bulbs,  much  smaller  than 


I40  CALOCHORTUS    LUTEUS. YELLOW    PRETTY-GRASS. 

the  original  Californian  root,  and  these  came  out  at  the  points 
represented  as  two  small  swellings  in  the  plate,  from  which  it 
will  be  seen  that  they  were  on  the  stem  rather  than  on  a  part  of 
the  old  bulb. 

Almost  every  traveller  who  goes  through  California  in  the 
late  fall  of  the  year  writes  to  Eastern  friends  of  the  great  beauty 
of  the  plains  and  foot-hills  when  glowing  with  the  gold  of  the 
Mariposa  Lilies,  which  we  take  to  be  the  species  we  now 
illustrate.  The  phenomenon  is  especially  noticed  by  those  who 
go  through  the  Sacramento  Valley,  where,  to  judge  from  all  the 
accounts  given,  it  seems  to  find  itself  the  most  completely  at 
home.  In  cultivation  it  would  probably  not  be  early  enough  for 
our  outdoor  gardening;  but  it  will  be  an  excellent  thing  for 
pot-culture  in  windows  or  green-houses.  In  this  respect  it  has 
one  very  great  advantage.  We  have  spoken  of  the  connecting 
link  between  it  and  the  Tradcscantia,  or  Spiderwort;  but  it 
will  not  do  to  compare  the  endurance  of  the  petals  in  the  two 
flowers ;  for  while  the  Spiderwort  lasts  only  a  few  hours,  the 
Yellow  Pretty-Grass  will  endure  for  a  long  time.  The  flow- 
ers on  the  plant  from  which  we  took  our  drawing  kept  open  a 
week,  and  other  growers  have  even  had  a  still  more  favorable 
experience.  The  editor  of  the  "  London  Garden,"  July  i,  1S76, 
says  :  "  We  have  so  long  considered  the  Mariposa  Lilies  some- 
what delicate  and  fragile,  owing  to  seeing  them  till  recently 
represented  by  very  poor  specimens,  that  we  are  agreeably  sur- 
prised at  finding  they  keep  for  a  considerable  time  in  water,  and 
open  their  large,  gay,  yet  delicately  marked  blooms  freely.  The 
ones  before  us  are  of  a  fine  dazzling  yellow  color,  like  Calo- 
chortus  vejiustus,  but  of  the  most  dazzling  yellow,  with  brownish- 
crimson  pencillings  and  markings."  We  quote  this  because  it 
evidently  refers  to  the  species  we  have  now  before  us. 

Explanation  of  the  Plate. —  i.     Bulb  with   complete  plant  and  side  view  of  flower. — 
2.     Full-face  view  of  flower. 


IRIS    VERSICOLOR. 

BLUE   FLAG. 

NATURAL   ORDER,   IRIDACE^. 

Iris  versicolor,  Linnaeus.  —  Stem  stout,  angled  on  one  side  ;  leaves  sword-shaped  (three 
quarters  of  an  inch  wide);  ovary  obtusely  triangular  with  the  sides  flat  ;  flowers  (two  and 
one  half  to  three  inches  long)  short  peduncled,  the  funnel-form  tube  shorter  than  the  ovary; 
pod  oblong,  turgid,  with  rounded  angles.  (Gray's  Manual  of  the  Botany  of  the  Northet-n 
United  States.  See  also  Darlington's  Flora  Cestrka,  Wood's  Class-Book  of  Bota7iy,  and 
Chapman's  Flo7-a  of  the  Souther  Jt  United  States.) 

HE  genus  to  which  the  Blue  Flag  belongs  was  called 
Iris,  which  is  the  Greek  name  for  rainbow,  on  account 
of  the  brilliant  hues  displayed  by  the  flowers  of  some  of  the 
species.  This  brilliancy  of  color  is  characteristic  of  all  the 
American  species  comprised  in  the  genus,  and  the  plant  which 
we  are  about  to  examine  does  special  honor  to  the  name.  The 
hues  of  the  flowers  of  the  Blue  Flag  are  not,  indeed,  exactly 
those  of  the  rainbow,  but  they  are  quite  as  varied ;  and  in  this 
respect  the  specific  name  of  the  plant,  versicolor,  is  very  appro- 
priate. The  great  beauty  of  the  Iris  versicolor  has  always  won 
admiration,  and  has  frequently  called  forth  happy  lines  from  the 
poets.  Longfellow,  with  the  popular  idea  of  the  relationship  of 
our  plant  to  the  Lily  present  in  his  mind,  thus  sings  of  it :  — 

"  Beautiful  Lily,  dwelling  by  still  rivers, 
Or  solitary  mere, 
Or  where  the  slug-gish  meadow  brook  delivers 
Its  waters  to  the  weir. 

Thou  laughest  at  the  mill,  the  whir  and  worry 

Of  spindle  and  of  loom, 
And  the  great  wheel  that  toils  amid  the  hurry 

And  rushing  of  the  flume. 


142  IRIS    VERSICOLOR. BLUE    FLAG. 

Born  to  the  purple,  born  to  joy  and  pleasance, 

Thou  dost  not  toil  nor  spin, 
But  makest  glad  and  radiant  with  thy  presence 

The  meadow  and  the  lin. 

The  wind  blows  and  uplifts  thy  drooping  banner, 
And  round  thee  throng  and  run 

The  rushes,  the  green  yeomen  of  thy  manor, 
The  outlaws  of  the  sun. 

The  burnished  dragon-fly  is  thy  attendant, 

And  tilts  against  the  field. 
And  down  the  listed  sunbeam  rides  resplendent 

With  steel-blue  mail  and  shield. 

Thou  art  the  Iris,  fair  among  the  fairest. 
Who,  armed  with  golden  rod, 

And  tvinged  with  celestial  azure,  bearest 
The  message  of  some  god. 

Thou  art  the  Muse,  who,  far  from  crowded  cities, 
Hauntest  the  sylvan  streams. 

Playing  on  pipes  of  reed  the  artless  ditties 
That  come  to  us  in  dreams." 


The  Blue  Flag  is,  indeed,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  all 
swamp-loving  plants ;  and  a  large  tract  covered  with  it,  while  its 
flowers  are  in  full  bloom,  as  often  seen  in  May  or  June,  is  one 
of  the  most  pleasing  sights  in  nature. 

The  evident  relationship  in  the  poet's  mind  between  our  plant 
and  the  Lily,  and  his  allusion  to  the  wind  which  uplifts  its  "  droop- 
inp-  banner,"  naturally  lead  us  to  a  consideration  of  the  structure 
of  the  flower.  In  this  respect  the  reflexed  sepals,  or  leaves  of 
the  outer  division  of  the  perianth,  first  claim  the  attention  of  the 
student,  as  they  are  characteristic  of  many  of  the  species  in- 
cluded in  the  genus.  These  sepals  turn  outward  and  down- 
ward, while  in  the  neighboring  order  of  AmaryllidacccB  the  floral 
parts  which  answer  to  them  have  rather  an  inward  direction. 
From  the  true  Lilies  the  IridacccE  are  widely  separated  in  the 
natural  classification,  although  the  first  cause  of  this  wide  differ- 


IRIS    VERSICOLOR. BLUE    FLAG.  1 43 

entiation  is  apparently  of  no  great  moment.  For  this  very 
reason  the  study  of  the  structure  of  the  flower  is  all  the  more 
interesting,  as  it  serves  to  show  on  what  seemingly  small  changes 
hinge  the  most  wonderful  divisions  of  the  vegetable  kingdom. 

It  is  well  to  keep  a  Lily  flower  in  view  while  studying  the 
manner  in  which  the  flower  of  an  Iris  is  built.     In  the  true  Lily 
the  perianth  is  free  from   the  ovary,  which  latter  is  therefore 
called  superior  in  botanical  language ;  while  in  the  plants  of  the 
order  Iridaccie   the   perianth   is  united   to   the   ovary,  which   is 
therefore  inferior.     (See  Fig.  3.)     As  the  Iridacea^  as  well  as  the 
Lilies  are  endogens,  they  have   their  parts   in    threes  in  their 
normal  condition.     Thus  there  are  three  sepals  and  three  petals 
in  the  Lily ;  but  in  the  rhythmical  development  of  growth  the  two 
verticils  have  apparently  been  arrested  together,  and  both  sets 
are  therefore  so  much  alike  that  there  seems  to  be  no  distinc- 
tion between  them.     It  is  impossible  to  tell  the  sepals  from  the 
petals,  and  it  would  be  quite  as  correct  to  say  that  the  perianth 
of  the  Lily  is  composed  of  six  petals,  as  to  say  that  it  is  com- 
posed of  six  sepals.     In  the   Iris  the  perianth  also  consists  of 
twice  three  parts,  but  it  is  evident  that  the  verticils  have  been 
influenced  separately.     The  three  leaves  which  form  the  lower 
verticil,   and    which    may   be   called    sepals,   although   they   are 
purely  petaloid,  have  broad  blades  and  turn  downwards ;  while 
the  second  verticil    has    assumed    the    shape   of   comparatively 
small  petals  which  incline  upwards.     In   the  stamens  we  note 
a  still  more  remarkable  difference  between  the  Lily  and  the  Iris 
than  in  the  perianth.     The  Lily  has  six  stamens,  and  these,  like 
the  leaves  of  the  flower-cup,  are  formed  of  two  verticils  of  three 
each.      It    is   difficult,   however,    to   distinguish    the   two   series 
from    one   another,   as   they  have    both    been    caught,   in   very 
close  succession,  by  the  same  growth-wave ;  but  if  we  watch  the 
development  of   these  six  stamens,  we  find   that  three  of  the  an- 
thers expel  their  pollen  somewhat  before  the  other  three,  and  from 
this  fact  we  learn  that  they  really  represent  two  stages  of  growth. 
The  pistil,  in  like  manner,  was  originally  in  a  ternary  condition. 


144  IRI^    VERSICOLOR. BLUE    FLAG. 

but  the  normally  distinct  parts  have  been  so  united  that  their 
trifid  character  is  only  revealed  by  the  three-parted  stigma  at 
the  apex.  If  now  we  revert  again  to  the  Iris,  we  shall  find  but 
a  single  verticil  of  stamens,  —  three  only;  but  these  are  in  their 
proper  situation,  or  in  other  words,  they  alternate  with  the  petals, 
and  bend  back  over  the  median  line  of  the  sepals.  The  other 
three  which  we  might  expect  to  find,  judging  from  the  analo- 
gous structure  of  the  Lily,  have  wholly  disappeared.  As  regards 
the  pistils,  they  would  almost  seem  to  be  wanting,  at  first  sight, 
and  in  the  place  which  they  ought  to  occupy,  we  notice  a  peta- 
loid,  three-parted  structure  in  the  centre  of  the  flower,  inside 
of  the  stamens.  On  closer  examination,  however,  we  discover 
that  these  structures  are  really  the  pistils,  and  that  they  have 
coalesced  with  another  set  of  three  bodies  which  mi^ht  have 
formed  a  second  verticil  of  three  stamens,  but  which  are  still 
petaloid  in  character.  From  the  morphological  lessons  we  have 
already  learned,  we  can  now  understand  what  has  become  of  the 
second  verticil  of  stamens.  These  organs  have  evidently  been 
united  with  the  next  verticil,  or  the  pistils,  and  thus  we  have  the 
beautiful  petaloid  pistils,  which  give  such  a  peculiar  character 
to  the  Iris. 

Our  plant  abounds  in  Maine  in  the  East,  and  in  Minnesota  in 
the  West,  and  is  as  much  at  home  in  Arkansas  as  in  Florida, 
and  throughout  the  whole  of  the  vast  territory  of  which  these 
points  indicate  the  limits. 

According  to  Lindley,  the  Blue  Flag  is  a  "  diuretic,  purgative, 
and  emetic."  Bartram,  in  his  "  Travels,"  tells  us  that  it  was  in 
great  favor  with  the  Indians  as  a  powerful  cathartic ;  and  in- 
deed he  intimates  that  its  wide  distribution  is  in  a  great  meas- 
ure due  to  the  estimation  in  which  it  was  held  by  them  for 
medicinal  purposes.  It  has  also  been  found  useful  in  cases  of 
dropsy.     In  overdoses,  it  causes  nausea,  similar  to  sea-sickness. 

Explanation  of  the  Plate. —  i.  Flowering  stem,  proceeding  from  tlie  termin::!  bud  of 
a  rhizome  of  last  year's  growth.  —  2.  Branchlct  of  the  flower  stem,  with  expanded  flower. 
—  3.     Faded  flower.  —  4.     Cross  section  of  the  ovary. 


-3L    ] 


Flatl  o.. 


I  '■' 


..xix^GLOSP^^^^^ 


'Rwr 


POGONIA    OPHIOGLOSSOIDES. 

SNAKE-MOUTH. 

NATURAL   ORDER,    ORCHIDACE7E. 

PoGONiA  OPHIOGLOSSOIDES,  Nutt.  —  Root  of  thick  fibres  ;  stem  (six  to  nine  inches  high)  bear- 
ing a  single  oval  or  lance-oblong  leaf  near  the  middle,  and  a  smaller  one  or  bract  near  the 
terminal  flower,  rarely  one  or  two  others  with  a  flower  in  their  axil ;  lip  spatulate  below, 
appressed  to  the  column,  beard  crested  and  fringed ;  flower,  one  inch  long,  sweet-scented. 
(Gray's  Mamuil  of  the  Botany  of  the  Northern  United  States.  See  also  Chapman's  Flora 
of  the  Southern  United  States  and  Wood's  Class-Book  of  Botany.) 

iRCHIDS  seem  at  first  sight  calculated  to  shake  our  con- 
fidence in  the  reliability  of  the  morphological  doctrine, 
according  to  which  all  the  parts  of  a  flower  are  but  modifications 
of  simple  leaves.  On  closer  investigation  it  will  be  seen,  how- 
ever, that  hardly  a  better  illustration  of  the  truth  of  this  doctrine 
could  be  found  than  is  offered  by  a  comparison  of  our  present 
species,  Pogonia  opJiioglossoidcs,  with  some  other  species  of  the 
same  genus,  and  more  especially  with  P.  veriicillata  and  P.  pen- 
dula. 

In  P.  pcudula  the  stem  is  leafy,  and  there  are  a  number  of 
axillary  flowers  (one  to  four,  according  to  Gray ;  three  to  seven, 
according  to  Chapman),  but  these  flowers  are  far  from  being 
showy.  The  stem  of  P.  veriicillata,  on  the  contrary,  is  naked 
(excepting  some  small  scales  at  the  base),  and  there  is  only  one 
whorl  of  leaves  at  the  summit,  at  the  base  of  the  reddish-brown 
flower.  In  P.  opJiioglossoidcs,  finally,  there  is  one  leaf  acting  as 
a  sheathing  scale  at  the  base,  another  near  the  middle  of  the 
stem,  and  again  a  smaller  leaf  or  bract  higher  up,  and  above  this 
a  pretty  rose-colored  terminal  flower. 

In  the  case  of  P.  pcudula  it  might  therefore  be  said  that  the 


146  POGONIA    OPHIOGLOSSOIDES. SNAKE-MOUTH. 

Great  Architect  had  not  got  far  beyond  the  foundations  of  his 
work  in  makino-  a  PocoJiia.  The  vec:etative  force  seems  feeble, 
and  spends  itself  in  often-repeated  attempts ;  hence,  small  leaves 
and  insis^nificant  flowers  are  scattered  all  aloni^  the  stem.  But 
in  P.  verticillata  the  force  exercised  is  evidently  greater,  not 
only  in  amount,  but  also  in  degree,  and  its  action  is  more  con- 
centrated. The  stem,  therefore,  instead  of  slowly  elongating, 
and  sending  out  a  leaf  and  a  flower  here  and  there,  rapidly 
draws  in  its  spiral  coils,  thus  producing  only  a  verticil  or  whorl 
of  leaves,  and  annihilating  all  tendency  to  flower  in  the  axils ; 
after  which  it  makes  another  growth,  and  then  another  sudden 
arrest  and  coil,  resulting  in  a  large,  single  flower.  Coming 
now  to  P.  opJiioglossoidcs,  we  find  that  the  acting  force  was 
intermediate  in  intensity.  .Having  coiled  up  the  primordial 
leaves  to  form  the  flower-stem,  the  force  was  not  powerful 
enough  to  arrest  the  formation  of  the  leaves  suddenly,  and  it 
therefore  still  left  them  somewhat  scattered.  Of  the  three  leaves 
thus  produced  the  lowermost  is  little  more  than  a  sheathing 
scale.  The  next  or  largest  one  shows  by  the  groove  down  the 
stem  opposite,  as  seen  in  our  illustration,  how  very  near  it  came 
to  diverging  still  more  than  it  actually  does  from  the  interior 
leaves,  out  of  which  the  stem  is  formed  ;  and  the  upper  one,  by 
its  greatly  reduced  size,  reveals  the  fact  that  the  force  employed 
in  arresting  the  elongating  growth,  and  in  working  up  all  the 
separate  parts  into  a  flower,  is  now  in  active  operation.  Thus 
we  see  how  an  exceedingly  beautiful  structure  is  built  up  from 
a  few  rough  and  simple  materials. 

In  distinguishing  the  genera  of  Orchids,  the  relative  differ, 
ences  in  the  sizes  and  forms  of  sepals  and  petals  are  taken  into 
consideration,  as  well  as  the  relative  forms  of  the  petals  them- 
selves. The  lip  is  often  very  characteristic,  and  almost  alone 
will  enable  the  botanist  to  build  a  genus  on  it.  Our  present 
plant  was  regarded  by  Linnceus  as  an  ArctJmsa,  and  as  such  it 
is  described  in  all  old  works ;  but  in  this  last-named  genus,  the 
sepals  and  petals  are  united  at  the  base,  while  in  Pogonia  they 


POGONIA    OPHIOGLOSSOIDES. SNAKE-MOUTH.  1 47 

are  all  distinct.  There  are  other  differences,  but  this  one  will 
strike  the  most  cursory  observer,  and  is  well  fitted  to  illustrate 
the  point  we  wish  to  make,  —  that  great  apparent  differences 
are  often  the  result  of  very  slight  causes. 

In  our  plant  the  lip  is  prettily  bearded,  and  this  suggested 
the  name  Pogonia,  pogon  being  Greek  for  "  beard.'  The  specific 
name,  ophioglossoides,  is  derived  from  the  resemblance  of  the 
leaves  to  the  fronds  of  an  Ophioglossiun,  a  cryptogamic  genus 
allied  to  the  ferns.  The  English  name  "  Snake-mouth  "  seems 
to  be  adopted  by  a  great  many  writers,  although  we  never  heard 
our  plant  popularly  thus  called.  One  might  suppose  that  there 
was  some  resemblance  to  a  snake's  mouth  in  the  flower,  but  there 
is  none,  and  the  name  is  evidently  suggested  by  the  relation 
which  the  specific  appellation  bears  to  a  snake,  OpJiioglossum^ 
from  which  it  is  derived,  meaning  "  serpent's  tongue." 

Orchids  are  singularly  circumscribed  in  their  geographical 
ranges  ;  but  our  present  species,  where  it  exists  at  all,  is  usually 
found  in  great  abundance.  It  grows  generally  in  bogs,  among 
sphagnum  and  sedges,  and  in  places  so  wet  that  those  who  go 
out  collecting  in  patent-leather  shoes  have  generally  to  be  satis- 
fied with  admirino:  from  a  distance.  Sometimes  a  bosf  will  be 
perfectly  ablaze  with  the  bright  purple  blossoms,  and  we  have 
frequently  seen  this  beautiful  sight,  especially  in  the  State  of 
New  Jersey.  Our  specimen  was  of  Massachusetts  growth,  and 
rather  smaller  than  is  usual  in  more  southern  locations.  The 
thready  roots  creep  freely  through  the  decaying  moss  and  mud 
among  which  the  plant  grows,  and  are  so  small  that  those  who 
collect  for  cultivation  experience  great  difficulty  in  finding  them. 
For  this  reason,  it  is  necessary  to  take  them  up  as  they  are 
Sfoinof  out  of  flower. 

The  interest  in  Orchids  has  of  late  years  been  particularly 
deep,  on  account  of  Mr.  Darwin's  papers  on  Orchid  fertilization. 
The  flowers  of  the  Orchids  are  generally  so  constructed  as  to 
be  unable  to  fertilize  themselves,  and  they  seem  to  be  in  a  great 
measure  dependent  on  insects.      Mr,   Darwin,  speaking  of  our 


148  POGONIA    OPIIIOGLOSSOIDES.  SNAKE-MOUTH. 

present  species  in  this  connection,  says  :  "  The  flowers  of  Pogo- 
nia  ophioglossoides^  as  described  by  Mr.  Scudder,  resemble  those 
of  Ccphalanthera  (a  Mediterranean  species)  in  not  having  a 
rostellum  (that  is  to  say,  a  beak),  and  in  the  pollen  masses  not 
being  furnished  with  caudicles.  The  pollen  consists  of  powdery 
masses,  not  united  by  threads.  Self-fertilization  seems  to  be 
effectually  prevented,  and  the  flowers  on  distinct  plants  must 
intercross,  for  each  plant  bears  generally  but  a  single  flower." 
It  will  be  obsei'ved,  however,  that  Mr.  Darwin  argues  only  from 
the  facts  to  be  derived  from  a  study  of  the  struchtre  of  the 
flower,  so  that  there  is  yet  room  for  the  student  to  make 
original  observations,  based  upon  its  actual  behavior.  It  is 
worthy  of  note  that,  with  all  the  supposed  ad\'antages  of  cross- 
fertilization,  there  are  not  many  families  of  Orchids  in  this 
country,  nor  indeed  are  the  plants  spread  over  wide  districts. 
Of  the  genus  Pogonia,  there  arc  not  many  species,  and  its  only 
close  allies  in  America  are  Calopogon  and  Arcthusa,  of  which 
there  are  fewer  species  than  of  Pogonia  itself.  If  these  flowers 
are  so  beautifully  colored  for  the  especial  purpose  of  attracting 
insects  to  their  charms,  they  seem  to  profit  so  little  by  the 
arrangement  that  one  might  be  pardoned  for  suggesting  they 
would  have  been  better  off  in  an  humbler  o:arment.  The  lines 
of  Paulding  seem  very  applicable  to  them :  — 

"  Be  thine  to  live  and  never  know 
Sweet  sympathy  in  joy  or  woe  ; 
To  see  Time  rob  thee,  one  by  one, 
Of  every  charm  thou  e'er  hast  known  ; 
To  see  the  moth  that  round  thee  came 
Flit  to  some  newer,  brighter  flame, 
And  never  know  thy  destined  fate 
Till  to  retrieve  it  is  too  late  !  " 

The  Snake-mouth  is  found  from  Canada  West  to  Wisconsin, 
and  southward  to  Florida.  It  flowers  in  June.  There  is  noth- 
ing recorded  of  its  value  in  the  arts. 


Plate  38. 


Cleome  pun  gens. 

L. Prang  &  Company,  Boston. 


CLEOME    PUNGENS. 

PRICKLY   CLEOME,   OR   SPIDERFLOVVER. 

NATURAL   ORDER,   CAPPARIDACE^. 

Cleome  PUNGENS,  WiUclenow.  —  Clammy-pubescent;  leaves  five  to  seven  foliate,  long-petioled ; 
leaflets  lanceolate,  acute,  serrulate ;  lower  bracts  trifoliolate,  the  upper  ones  simple,  cor- 
date, ovate;  stipules  spiny;  capsule  smooth,  shorter  than  the  elongated  stipe;  seeds 
rugose ;  stem  two  to  four  feet  high ;  petioles  more  or  less  spiny ;  flowers  showy,  purple, 
changing  to  white.  (Chapman's  Flora  of  the  Southern  United  States.  See  also  Wood's 
Class- Book  of  Botany.) 

HE  Prickly  Cleome,  a  beautiful  wild  flower  from  the 
southern  shores  of  the  United  States,  is  an  object  of 
curiosity,  even  to  the  ordinary  observer,  from  the  resemblance 
which  the  flowers  bear  to  an  insect  with  erect  wings  and  long 
legs  and  tentacles.  The  resemblance,  indeed,  is  not  so  striking 
as  in  the  flowers  of  some  orchids,  but  sufficiently  so  to  pro- 
duce an  odd  effect.  To  more  scientific  observers,  however,  and 
especially  to  those  who  like  to  examine  structure  closely,  by 
comparing  allied  plants  with  one  another,  this  species  offers 
other  points  of  peculiar  interest.  If  the  four  petals  and  four 
sepals  were  not  all  turned  in  one  direction,  and  if  it  were  not 
for  the  general  appearance  of  the  seed-vessel,  one  would  sup- 
pose at  first  sight  that  the  plant  belonged  to  the  Crucifercs,  or 
cabbage  tribe ;  but  in  that  family  four  of  the  six  stamens  are 
invariably  long,  and  the  remaining  two  invariably  short,  while 
in  Cleome  pungens  the  whole  six  are  of  equal  length.  The 
most  striking  difference,  however,  will  be  found  in  the  ovarium, 
ultimately  the  seed-vessel,  which  in  Cleome  pungens  is  borne  on 
the  end  of  a  very  long  stalk.     These,  then,  together  with  some 


150        CLEOME    rUNGENS. PRICKLY    CLEOME,  OR    SPIDERFLOWER. 

other  more  minute  but  essential  peculiarities,  will  show  at  once 
the  difference  between  our  plant  and  the  CrMcifcr£€. 

But  there  are  still  other  plants  belonging  to  the  same  natural 
order  with  Clcome  which  have  the  petals  ranged  with  more 
regularity  around  the  axis,  in  which  the  ovary  is  borne  on  a 
much  shorter  pedicel,  and  which,  therefore,  point  to  a  much 
closer  relationship  to  cruciferous  plants  than  that  suggested  by 
the  plant  to  which  this  chapter  is  devoted.  Nor  is  this  sugges- 
tion deceptive  ;  for  the  order  Capparidacca:,  to  which  our  species 
belongs,  is  closely  allied  to  Crucifens,  and  quite  as  much  so,  if 
not  still  more  closely,  to  RcsedacecE,  or  mignonettes.  With  the 
violets  it  also  has  some  afifinity,  and  it  has  therefore  been  classed 
near  them.  The  CrticifcrcB  comprise  a  very  large  number  of 
genera  and  species,  while  the  CapparidacccE  and  the  ResedacecE 
have  each  but  a  very  few ;  and  it  will  be  well  to  look  for  "  miss- 
ing links  "  in  their  development,  as  it  is  not  improbable  that 
both  of  them  had  cruciferous  parentage. 

A  fair  key  to  the  structure  of  our  species  is  supplied  by  the 
numerous  bracts  among  the  flowers.  In  the  true  Crucifcrce 
there  is  nothing  but  a  naked  flower-stalk  bearing  pedicels  and 
flowers,  and  the  bracts  are  entirely  wanting.  We  see,  also,  that 
the  foliaceous  system  of  our  plant  is  very  well  developed,  and 
this,  in  plants  not  absolutely  acaulescent,  generally  implies  a 
corresponding  activity  in  the  axis  or  stem.  In  other  genera  of 
Capparids,  where  there  are  no  bracts,  there  is  scarcely  any  pedi- 
cel to  the  flower,  or  to  the  ovary,  and  the  resemblance  to  true 
Crucifercc  is  every  way  closer.  In  this  species,  however,  the  ten- 
dency to  produce  stems  is  so  strong  that  even  the  petals  are 
stalked,  while  the  stamens  have  long,  drawn-out  filaments,  and 
the  same  force  has  projected  the  ovary  far  beyond  the  point 
usual  in  flowers. 

We  also  see  the  operation  of  rhythmical  growth,  or  of  the 
law  of  acceleration  and  retardation,  as  it  is  sometimes  called,  in 
producing  certain  other  results.  The  pedicel  is  really  a  branch, 
which  has  started  to  grow  from  the  axial  bud  at  the  base  of  the 


CLEOME    PUNGENS. PRICKLV    CLEOME,  OR    SPIDERFLOWER.    I51 

leaf.  Its  excessive  slenderness,  as  compared  with  the  main 
stem,  shows  us  at  once  that  its  vegetative  growth  has  been 
severely  checked,  although  we  notice  at  the  same  time  that  its 
power  of  elongation  has  not  been  interfered  with  to  the  same 
degree  as  its  power  for  increase  in  thickness ;  but  all  at  once  it 
receives  a  sudden  check  to  form  the  calyx,  in  which  latter  there 
is  no  sign  of  any  elongating  or  axial  growth.  The  growth-wave 
is  then  again  somewhat  accelerated  in  a  forward  direction,  and 
produces  the  pedicellate  or  clawed  petals ;  and  finally,  it  is  once 
more  accelerated  to  a  still  greater  degree  for  the  production  of 
the  stamens.  Thus  we  see  that  in  the  varying  degrees  of  inten- 
sity in  the  growth-wave,  and  in  the  degree  of  rapidity  with 
which  the  spiral  line,  along  which  the  vegetative  force  acts,  is 
drawn  in  or  coiled  up,  we  have  the  clew  to  this  singular  struc- 
ture, and  in  some  respects  the  measure  of  the  difference  between 
it  and  its  allies.  This,  indeed,  is  true  of  all  plants,  but  in  few 
is  it  so  well  illustrated  as  in  the  Cleomc pungens. 

The  great  beauty  of  our  plant  makes  it  a  desirable  one  to 
cultivate.  It  thrives  well  during  the  summer  in  any  ordinary 
garden  ground,  and  indeed  the  hotter  the  weather,  the  better  it 
thrives.  It  grows  about  four  feet  high,  and  as  it  branches  freely 
from  the  sides  of  the  main  stem,  it  makes  a  showy  and  symmet- 
rical bush.  In  ordinary  wild  locations,  unless  it  happens  to 
find  itself  in  extra  rich  ground,  it  does  not  usually  grow  more 
than  two  feet  his^h.  It  is  an  annual  in  cultivation,  although 
classed  as  a  biennial  in  most  descriptions. 

Prof.  Grisebach,  a  noted  botanist,  does  not  believe  that  plants 
were  created  all  in  one  place,  and  that  they  have  wandered 
over  the  world  from  one  home.  He  is  of  opinion  that  there 
have  been  many  centres  of  creation.  But  whether  this  be 
so  or  not  as  to  the  first  appearance  of  plants  on  the  earth's 
surface,  it  certainly  seems  to  be  true  that  our  modern  races 
have  home-centres,  and  that  from  these  they  have  wandered, 
and  still  continue  to  wander,  farther  and  farther  away.  Most 
of  the   species   of    Capparidacca:  are    tropical   or  semi-tropical, 


152    CLEOME    PUNGENS. PRICKLY    CLEOME,  OR    SPIDERFLOWER. 

but  they  are  continually  extending  their  boundaries.  Our 
Cleome  is  believed  to  have  crossed  over  to  Florida  from  the 
West  India  Islands,  and  it  is  probable  that  it  has  been  intro- 
duced into  the  State  named  only  within  recent  times,  as  it 
is  not  mentioned  in  Torrey  and  Gray's  "  Flora  of  North 
America,"  which  was  published  in  1840.  Prof.  Wood  gives,  in  a 
general  way,  "  the  South  "  as  its  location,  while  Chapman  places 
it  in  "  Florida  and  westward."  Mr.  George  D.  Butler,  in  a  note 
to  the  "  Botanical  Bulletin  "  (now  the  "  Botanical  Gazette "), 
reports  it  as  having  already  crossed  the  Mississippi  to  Arkansas, 
and  there  Is  no  doubt  but  future  generations  will  find  it  com- 
pletely across  the  continent.  According  to  Mr.  Martindale,  it 
occasionally  appears  along  the  shores  of  the  Delaware,  being, 
no  doubt,  brought  there  In  the  ballast  of  vessels. 

The  name  of  the  genus,  Clcoinc,  is  said  to  be  derived  from  the 
Greek  verb  kleio,  to  shut.  In  allusion  to  the  fact  that  the  style 
and  the  filaments,  which  lengthen  faster  than  the  petals,  burst 
through  the  latter  while  they  are  still  closed,  and  while  the 
stigma  and  the  anthers  are  still  enfolded  by  them.  Don  says 
that  the  name  "  was  first  used  by  Theodosius,"  and  from  him 
adopted  by  Linnaeus.  A  species  is  often  found  described  as 
C.  spinosa,  but  this  Is  now  thought  to  be  identical  with  C.  pun- 
gciis,  which  has  the  right  of  priority,  as  far  as  the  name  is 
concerned.  Our  species  has  no  English  name,  but  a  transla- 
tion of  its  botanical  appellation,  "  Prickly  Cleome  "  (pronounce 
clay-om-ay),  will,  no  doubt,  be  acceptable,  unless,  indeed,  "  Spider- 
flower,"  which  we  have  heard  suggested,  should  be  adopted  in 
preference.  We  cannot,  however,  endorse  this  name,  as  it  is  so 
like  Spiderwort,  which  has  already  been  appropriated  by  Tradcs- 
cantia. 

From  a  utilitarian  point  of  view,  the  Prickly  Cleome  is  use- 
less, but  it  Is  to  be  hoped  that  its  beauty  will  be  considered  a 
sufficient  reason  for  Its  existence. 


Vol 


V 


Plate  39. 


ACTINOMERIS    SQUARROSA. 


L,  Prang  &  Company,  Boston. 


ACTINOMERIS    SQUARROSA. 

SOUARROSE    ACTINOMERIS. 

NATURAL   ORDER,    ASTERACE/E    (COMPOSTT/E). 

AcTiNOMERFS  SQUARROSA,  Nuttall.  —  Stem  somewhat  hairy  and  winged  above,  four  to  eight 
feet  high;  leaves  alternate  or  the  lower  oi)posite,  oblong  or  ovate-lancelate,  pointed  at  both 
ends  ;  heads  in  an  open  corymbed  panicle  ;  scales  of  the  involucre  in  two  rows,  the  outer 
linear-spatulate  reflexed ;  rays  four  to  ten,  irregular  ;  achenia  broadly  winged  ;  receptacle 
globular.  (Gray's  Manual  of  the  Botany  of  the  Northern  United  States.  See  also  Chap- 
man's Flora  of  the  Southern  United  States  and  Wood's  Class- Book  of  Botany.) 

HE  species  which  we  now  illustrate  is  not  one  that  will 
attract  by  its  beauty,  if  by  beauty  we  understand  mere 
color.  But  to  the  true  lover  of  nature,  or  to  the  botanical 
student,  it  will  be  acceptable,  for  there  are  few  which  are  so 
instructive,  or  which  afford  so  many  lessons.  The  plants  called 
UmbellifercE,  such  as  the  carrot,  parsnip,  celery,  and  so  on,  are 
nearly  related  to  the  Composites,  of  which  our  plant  is  a  repre- 
sentative. Yet  we  must  look  at  these  two  orders  in  the  light  of 
morphological  law  to  see  the  relationship  ;  for  in  general  appear- 
ance they  are  so  different  that  it  has  been  found  necessary  to 
place  them  somewhat  widely  apart  in  the  systematic  classification 
of  the  orders.  When  we  examine  a  plant  of  the  umbelliferous 
order,  we  see  that  the  flower  is  composed  of  five  distinct  petals, 
and  of  five  stamens,  each  of  which  is  likewise  separate  and  dis^ 
tinct  from  the  other ;  but  in  the  flowers  of  the  Composita;  the 
normal  five-petalled  corolla  is  united  into  a  tubular  one,  and  the 
anthers  are  also  united  together  by  their  edges,  so  that  the 
pistil,  as  it  grows,  has  to  push  through  the  united  mass.  Now 
morphology  teaches  us  that  all  the  parts  of  a  plant  are  normally 
leaf-blades,  and   that   from  the  various  degrees  of  union  or  of 


154        ACTINOMERIS    SQUARROSA. SQUARROSE    ACTINOMERIS. 

separation,  the  degree  of  Individualization  or  consolidation  of 
these  original  parts,  result  the  different  characters  which  are 
exhibited  by  the  different  parts  of  a  plant.  And  we  can  see  by 
studying  such  plants  as  the  one  we  are  describing  that  not  only 
Is  this  true  of  individual  plants,  but  that  differences  between 
species,  genera,  and  orders  depend  on  the  same  laws  of  individ- 
ualization and  cohesion,  or  on  the  varying  degrees  of  rapidity 
with  which  development  takes  place.  An  umbelliferous  plant 
Is  simply  a  Composite,  with  less  tendency  to  an  arrestation  of  its 
axial  growth,  and  a  consequent  union  of  parts.  The  seeds  of 
Composites  often  have  so  great  a  resemblance  to  the  seeds  of 
umbelliferous  plants  that  it  is  difficult  to  distinguish  the  order 
by  them  alone.  The  seeds  or  "  achenes  "  of  the  present  species 
greatly  resemble  those  of  the  parsnip,  and  of  similar  umbelli- 
fers,  In  the  broad  marginal  wing  on  the  edges,  as  seen  In  the 
half-mature  achene  in  Fig.  2,  and  Its  cross  section  Fig.  3,  and 
this  resemblance  is  peculiarly  conspicuous  when  the  seed  is 
ripe. 

In  old  times  Actinomcris  was  thought  to  belong  to  Coreopsis, 
and  as  a  member  of  this  genus  the  first  species  known  to 
Europeans  is  therefore  described  by  Willdenow.  Nuttall, 
however,  showed  that  it  is  much  more  nearly  related  to  the 
Helianthus  or  Sunflower,  although  there  are  many  points 
of  difference  between  the  two,  the  one  which  will  strike  the 
most  casual  observer  being  the  small  number  of  the  ray-petals, 
as  already  noted.  The  principal  flower  on  our  plate  Is  repre- 
sented with  eleven  rays,  but  this  Is  unusual ;  six,  and  often  only 
four,  being  found  much  more  frequently.  The  name  of  the 
genus,  Actinomej'is,  is  based  on  this  fact,  aktin  being  Greek  for 
"  ray,"  and  meris  for  "  part,"  the  compound  thus  signifying  that 
the  flowers  are  only  "  partly  rayed." 

We  may  sometimes  notice  a  regular  current  of  air  moving  in 
the  atmosphere  with  scarcely  any  apparent  vibration  of  its  wave, 
while  at  other  times  the  current  is  extremely  fitful,  —  now  calm 
and  flowing  in  one  direction,  now  violent  and  coming  in  gusts 


ACTINOMERIS    SQUARROSA. SQUARROSE    ACTINOMERIS.         I  55 

from  "  all  ways  at  once."  The  same  varying  waves  can  be 
noticed  in  the  growth-currents  of  plants,  and  in  this  species  we 
have  an  illustration  of  the  fitful  current.  We  see  that  the 
growth-force  still  retained  considerable  power  in  the  first  effort 
at  forming  a  flower-bud  in  the  axil  of  the  lowest  leaf,  and  that 
but  little  of  this  power  was  diverted  to  advance  the  reproduc- 
tive development.  The  next  bud  in  the  series  started  with  a 
good  amount  of  growth-force,  but  was  suddenly  arrested,  and 
the  growth-force  being  converted  into  reproductive  force  at  this 
point,  the  result  was  that  the  flowers  here  formed  were  stronger, 
and  therefore  opened  sooner  than  those  in  the  axil  below,  which 
had  been  produced  by  a  weaker  developing  power.  The  next 
wave  after  this  vigorous  arrest  moved  slowly,  and  resulted,  at  the 
next  bract,  in  a  very  weak  head  of  flowers ;  but  before  its  final 
arrest  the  growth-force  again  gathered  more  strength,  and  a 
much  stronger  cluster  was  therefore  the  last  achievement  of  its 
activity.  The  student  can  thus  trace  the  fitfulness  of  the 
growth-wave  through  the  whole  development  of  the  plant.  We 
see  it  distinctly  in  the  leaves,  which  sometimes  appear  in  threes, 
sometimes  opposite,  and  sometimes  alternate,  all  on  the  same 
plant.  Our  Fig.  4  is  a  part  of  the  stem  with  an  opposite  pair 
of  leaves,  while  the  bracts  on  the  flower-branch,  Fig.  i,  are  alter- 
nate. The  leaves  run  down  below  the  point  of  junction  with 
the  stem,  or,  as  the  botanists  say,  they  are  decurrent,  and  this 
gives  the  stem  a  four-angled  appearance,  with  green,  leafy  wings 
on  the  angles. 

There  are  several  species  of  Actino^neris.  The  present  one, 
A.  sqtiarrosa,  has  been  long  known,  and  is  described  by  Lin- 
nzeus  as  Coreopsis  alternifolia.  As  a  cultivated  plant,  it  has 
been  in  English  gardens  for  perhaps  two  hundred  and  fifty 
years,  and  it  must  have  been  among  the  first  of  our  native 
flowers  to  make  the  acquaintance  of  the  botanists  of  the  Old 
World. 

In  Actinomeris  squarrosa  the  specific  or  last  name  signifies 
jagged  or  spreading,  in  reference  to   the  spreading  tips  of  the 


156        ACTINOMERIS    SQUARROSA. SQUARROSE    ACTINOMERIS. 

involucral  scales.  Not  having  attracted  much  popular  atten- 
tion, it  seems  to  have  gained  no  common  name. 

The  geography  of  this  species  is  of  peculiar  interest.  It 
seems  to  be  confined  to  an  inland  strip  of  country,  but  why  it 
has  not  extended  farther  north  and  east  is  a  problem.  Most  of 
our  botanists  give  Western  New  York  as  its  eastern  boundary. 
It  was  included  in  Torrey's  catalogue  of  the  plants  of  New 
Jersey,  but  this  was  supposed  to  be  an  error.  In  recent  years, 
however,  it  has  certainly  been  found  at  Paterson  and  at  Mont 
Clair  in  that  State,  according  to  Willis  and  the  "  Bulletin  of  the 
Torrey  Botanical  Club."  It  is  found  in  Pennsylvania,  occasion- 
ally up  to  the  Delaware  River,  near  Philadelphia,  but  has  not 
crossed.  Chapman  says  it  grows  in  Florida  and  northward  to 
North  Carolina  ;  but  its  great  home-centre  seems  to  be  in  Ohio, 
Michigan,  and  the  adjoining  Southwestern  States.  Thence  it  is 
more  sparingly  found,  until  it  loses  itself  in  the  deserts  of  West- 
ern Kansas  and  Nebraska.  As  other  species  are  found  in  the 
Southwest,  we  shall  probably  have  to  look  in  that  direction  for 
its  genetic  home. 

Our  plant  commences  to  bloom  rather  early  for  an  autumnal 
flower,  but  its  blossoms  are  continued  far  into  the  fall  of  the  year. 
As  we  have  before  said,  it  was  introduced  many  years  ago  into 
English  gardens,  although  it  seems  to  be  rare  there  now,  and  we 
know  of  no  attempt  to  cultivate  it  in  our  own  country.  It  is  by 
no  means  a  showy  plant,  but  still  it  deserves  a  place  in  the  flower 
borders  of  the  real  lover  of  nature,  on  account  of  the  many  valu- 
able lessons  it  teaches,  some  of  which  we  have  briefly  alluded  to. 
It  seems  to  be  a  great  favorite  with  certain  coleopterous  insects, 
which  seek  out  and  greedily  devour  the  flowers,  although  there 
may  be  an  abundance  of  others  to  feed  on. 


Explanation  of  the  Plate.  —  i.  Pait  of  a  flower-stalk.  —  2.  Achene,  half  mature,  with 
two  divergent  calyx-teeth.  —  3.  Cross  section  of  the  same.  —  4.  Portion  of  llowcr-stalk 
from  about  midway,  showing  a  pair  of  opposite  leaves,  which  it  sometimes  produces. 


PLA' 


r.T.AYTONIA   VlRGINICA 


V'^nr:'-:  y.-  i"'.  ■■,^.TP,".^J^•    r-.riSTO!-: 


CLAYTONIA   VIRGINICA. 

SPRING-BEAUTY,   NOTCH-PETALLED    CLAYTONIA. 

NATURAL   ORDER,   PORTULACACE/E. 

Cl.AYTONiA  ViRGlNiCA,  L. —  Root  a  dccp  tubcr ;  stems  six  to  ten  inches  long,  simple;  leaves 
mostly  two,  linear-lanceolate,  an  opposite  pair  near  the  middle  of  the  stem,  from  three  to 
nine  inches  in  length;  flowers  pale  red,  with  purple  veins,  usually  six  to  twelve,  or  even 
fifteen,  in  a  loose,  simple,  terminal  raceme.  (Darlington's  Flora  Cestrka.  See  also 
Gray's  Manual  of  tJic  Botany  of  the  Northern  United  States,  Chapman's  Flora  of  the 
Southern   United  States,  and  Wood's  Class-Book  of  Botany.) 

N  the  early  part  of  the  last  century,  when  Linnaeus  had 
just  succeeded  in  reducing  botany  from  a  mass  of  con- 
fusion to  something  like  order,  the  native  flowers  of  our  own 
country  were  beginning  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  scientific 
men  of  Europe.  The  Dutch  botanists  had  established  close 
relationship  with  Americans,  and  as  early  as  1739  Gronovius 
published  at  Leyden  a  "  Flora  Virginica,"  the  figures  and 
descriptions  for  which  were  furnished  by  John  Clayton,  of  Vir- 
ginia, who  did  wonders,  for  that  early  period,  in  making  our 
native  plants  known.  At  the  same  time,  John  Bartram,  farmer, 
physician,  mechanic,  and  botanist,  who  lived  in  Pennsylvania, 
was  in  active  correspondence  with  England,  and  sent  roots  and 
seeds  to  his  friends  there. 

In  view  of  the  eminent  services  which  Clayton  rendered  to 
American  botany,  it  is  very  fitting  that  a  genus  so  interesting 
and  so  peculiarly  American  as  the  one  to  which  our  plant 
belongs  should  have  been  named  in  his  honor.  Nor  is  there 
much  danger  that  the  monument  thus  erected  to  Clayton's 
memory  will  ever  be  destroyed,  as  has  been  the  case  with  so 
many  similar  monuments  dedicated  to  other  botanists,  for  the 


158  CLAYTONIA    VIRGINICA. SPRING-BEAUTY. 

Sfenus  Claytonia  is  so  distinct  in  character  that   there   is  Httle 
chance  of  its  ever  being  merged  in  some  other  genus. 

There  are  about  twenty  species  of  Claytouia  known  at  pres- 
ent, according  to  the  most  recent  enumeration,  and  these  are 
chiefly  natives  of  Northwestern  America,  or  of  Siberia.  The 
whole  order  of  Poi^hilacacecE,  indeed,  to  which  our  genus  belongs, 
has  but  few  representatives  in  the  European  flora.  At  the  time 
of  Linn^us  only  two  species  of  Claytouia  were  known,  —  C. 
Sibh'ica,  from  Eastern  Asia,  and  our  American  plant,  the  first 
acquaintance  with  which  must  have  been  a  delightful  surprise 
to  Europeans.  Certain  it  is  that  they  took  great  pleasure  in  it 
after  it  had  once  been  made  known  to  them.  Dr.  Fothergill, 
In  a  letter  written  to  John  Bartram  in  1772,  boasted  that  he 
possessed  what  he  believed  to  be  the  only  plant  of  Claytouia 
Viro-iuica  in  "  all  Eng-land."  Old  Peter  Collinson  was  before 
him,  however,  for  in  Darlington's  "  Memorials  "  we  find  a  letter, 
dated  April  10,  1767,  in  which  he  records  the  fact  that  his 
Claytouia  had  flowered  on  April  5. 

Many  tuberous-rooted  plants  produce  new  tubers  every  year, 
and  the  old  ones  die  ;  in  others,  on  the  contrary,  the  tubers,  as 
thickened  root-stocks,  live  on  from  year  to  year,  and  continue 
to  increase  in  size.  We  have  had  no  opportunity,  however,  to 
ascertain  the  facts  in  the  case  of  our  plant,  but  as  far  as  we 
have  examined  the  roots,  they  seem  to  us  to  have  very  much 
the  appearance  of  being  perennial.  They  are  usually  very  deep 
in  the  ground,  and  we  dare  say  that,  to  many  hundreds  of 
those  who  tro  out  to  orather  and  admire  wild  flowers,  we  shall 
here  be  introducing^  the  roots  for  the  first  time. 

In  English  works  we  find  the  plant  spoken  of  as  the  "  Notch- 
petal'd  Claytouia";  but  in  American  works  it  is  called  "  Spring- 
Beauty,"  with  a  unanimity  quite  unusual  in  the  application  of 
common  names.  It  is  certainly  worthy  of  the  name,  for  it  is  very 
beautiful,  and  although  not  the  first  to  flower,  it  is  yet  among 
the  earliest  harbingers  of  spring,  and  gives  a  great  charm  to 
woods  and  shaded  places  in  April  and  May.     We  gathered  the 


CLAYTONIA    VIRGINICA. SPRING-BIiAUTV.  I  59 

specimen  from  which  our  drawing  was  made  in  the  early  part 
of  May  in  a  wood,  where  it  grew  in  company  with  anemones, 
ranunculus,  and  other  early  plants. 

The  Spring-Beauty  has  not  as  yet  succeeded  in  attracting  the 
attention  of  philosophers,  physicians,  or  economists.  Its  next 
of  kin,  however,  the  Common  Purslane,  is  sometimes  boiled  and 
eaten ;  and  it  is  said  that  the  leaves  of  our  plant  can  be  served 
in  the  same  way.  The  roots  of  the  tuberous-rooted  Siberian 
species  are  used  as  food ;  and  perhaps  those  of  our  Spring- 
Beauty  may  be  available  for  the  same  purpose.  It  might  be 
worth  while  to  select  some  of  the  larger  roots,  and  try  to 
improve  them  in  size.  In  like  manner  the  florist  might  improve 
the  race  in  color  by  selection.  The  most  common  variety  has 
purely  white  petals,  but  rosy  shades  are  also  abundant.  Says 
Bryant,  in  allusion  to  the  delicate  color  of  our  flower,  — 

"  And  the  Spring  Beauty  boasts  no  tenderer  streak 
Than  the  soft  red  on  many  a  youthful  cheek." 

So  deep  a  rose  as  that  shown  in  our  plate  is  not,  however, 
often  met  with,  and  we  selected  this  specimen  more  especially 
for  the  purpose  of  showing  how  much  nature  has  already  done, 
and  as  an  encouragement  for  art  to  do  more.  Our  plant  also 
varies  in  other  respects,  according  to  the  latitude  in  which  it 
grows.  Nuttall  notices  that  the  leaves  become  more  spathulatc 
on  the  right  bank  of  the  Ohio;  and  Don  remarks  that  they 
become  shorter  and  broader  as  we  approach  Alaska.  When 
variations  are  found  in  nature,  florists  may  always  look  upon 
them  as  hints  to  take  up  improvements  where  nature  leaves  off. 
The  Alaskan  form  noticed  by  Don  may,  however,  belong  to  a 
closely  allied  species,  for  the  botanists  have  not  as  yet  deter- 
mined the  exact  geographical  range  of  our  own. 

The  flowers  of  Claytoiiia  Virginica  all  turn  in  one  direction 
on  the  flower-stalk,  or,  as  botanists  say,  they  are  secund.  They 
expand  early  in  the  morning,  but  close  at  night.     If  the  flowers 


l60  CLAYTONIA    VIRGINICA. SPRING-BEAUTY. 

be  closely  watched  in  these  movements,  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
anthers  shed  their  pollen  on  the  petals,  and  that,  when  the  petals 
are  drawn  in  at  night,  they  brush  against  the  stigma,  and 
deposit  on  it  the  pollen  received  from  the  anthers.  This  would 
be  regarded  by  some  as  an  arrangement  for  insuring  self-fertili- 
zation. On  the  other  hand,  Mr.  Wheeler,  in  the  "  Botanical 
Gazette,"  reports  that  he  has  noticed  a  tendency  to  heteromor- 
phism,  by  which  term  botanists  understand  the  occurrence  of  a 
variety  of  forms  in  the  flowers  of  one  and  the  same  species.  In 
some  cases  the  pistils  are  proportionately  longer,  and  in  others 
shorter  than  the  stamens;  and  in  view  of  some  experiments 
made  by  Mr.  Darwin  and  others  on  primroses,  this  is  believed 
to  be  an  arrangement  in  favor  of  cross-fertilization.  Hermann 
Muller  believes  that  many  flowers  enjoy  a  double  advantage  in 
this  respect,  being  so  constructed  that  they  can  receive  their 
own  pollen,  in  case  the  supply,  which  they  were  originally 
intended  to  receive  from  another  plant,  should  fail.  It  is  not 
for  us  to  say  here  whether  these  views  —  any  or  all  of  them  — 
are  wholly  unobjectionable.  Our  chief  object  in  these  pages  is 
not  to  discuss  theories,  but  to  inform  the  reader  of  all  that  has 
been  learned  about  the  plants  we  introduce  to  him,  and  to  direct 
his  attention  to  matters  which  may  be  likely  to  interest  him. 

We  have  ourselves  noticed  that  in  some  seasons  only  the  two 
lower  flowers  mature  seed,  and  the  failure  of  the  others  to  be 
reproductive  may  have  some  relation  to  the  heteromorphic  con- 
dition reported  by  Mr.  Wheeler. 

The  specimen  from  which  our  drawing  was  made  came  from 
Pennsylvania. 


Explanation  of  the  Plate.  —  i.  Complete  plant,  with  the  bulb  or  corm.  —  2.  Capsule, 
with  a  portion  cut  awa)',  showing  the  position  and  small  number  of  the  seeds.  —  3.  Ver- 
tical section  of  seed-vessel,  showing  its  triangular  form.  —  4.     Mature  seed. 


Plate  4i 


Arpt\f^ntttm   TBTHHOMANES. 


ASPLENIUM    TRICHOMANES. 

ENGLISH    MAIDEN-HAIR  ;    DWARF    SPLEENWORT. 

NATURAL  ORDER,  FILICES.     (Polypodiace^:.) 


AsPLENiUM  TRICHOMANES,  Liiinacus.  —  Frond  pinnate;  leaflets  roundish,  subsessile,  small, 
roundish-obovate,  obtusely  cuneate  and  entire  at  base,  crenate  above  ;  stipe  black  and 
polished  ;  frond  three  to  six  inches  high,  lance-linear  in  outline,  with  eight  to  twelve  pairs 
of  roundish,  sessile  leaflets,  three  to  four  lines  long;  fruit  in  several  linear-oblong,  finally 
roundish  sori  on  each  leaflet,  placed  oblique  to  the  mid-vein.  A  small  and  delicate  fern, 
forming  tufts  on  shady  rocks.  (Wood's  Class-Book  of  Botany.  See  also  Gray's  Alatiiial 
of  the  Botany  of  the  Northern  United  States.') 


HIS  plant  is  not  only  a  native  of  the  United  States,  but 
is  quite  as  much  at  home  in  Old  England,  to  whose 
people  it  was  known  as  "  English  Maiden-Hair,"  at  a  time  when 
botany  was  still  in  its  infancy,  and  had  scarcely  grown  to  the 
dignity  of  a  science.  The  specific  designation  of  "  English " 
was  applied  to  it  to  distinguish  it  from  the  Adiantiim  Capillus 
Veneris,  which  was  called  the  "  True  Maiden-Hair."  Even  in 
those  early  times,  however,  Latin  and  Greek  names  were  given 
to  plants  besides  their  common  names ;  and  whenever  the  plants 
mentioned  by  the  ancients  could  be  identified,  the  appellations 
used  by  them  were  adopted.  But  when  no  ancient  name  existed 
a  new  one  was  created,  and  thus  our  pretty  little  fern  came  to 
be  called  Trichoinancs,  from  two  Greek  words,  signifying  "  soft 
hair."  It  was  also  named  Capillaris  and  Filicula,  both  of  which 
words  convey  a  somewhat  similar  meaning,  but  Trichoi7tancs 
carried  the  day  against  them.  Linnzeus,  therefore,  found  this 
name  in  use  when  he  commenced  to  build  up  modern  botany. 
But  at  the  same  time  he  found  other  ferns,  which  were  called 
Asplenium,  or  Spleenwort ;    and  as  he  conceived    Trichomancs 


1 62  ASPLENIUM    TRICHOMANES. ENGLISH    MAIDEN-HAIR. 

to  belong  to  the  genus  which  he  looked  upon  as  the  true  Asple- 
nium,  he  accordingly  classed  the  two  together,  and  retained 
the  former  proper  name  of  our  plant  as  its  specific  appellation. 
This  explains  why  the  specific  name  in  Asplcnumi  Trickomancs, 
which  stands  in  place  of  an  adjective,  is  written  with  a  capital. 
As  a  rule,  of  course,  all  specific  names  are  written  with  a  small 
letter ;  but  this  rule  suffers  an  exception  whenever  the  specific 
is  a  proper  name,  or  is  derived  from  one. 

The  reason  for  applying  the  term  Trichomancs,  or  soft  hair, 
to  our  plant,  does  not  seem  to  be  clearly  established.  Modern 
authors  find  in  this  term  an  allusion  to  the  delicate,  black, 
shining  stipes  (or  stalks).  But  an  old  writer  seems  to  derive  it 
from  the  small,  hard,  black,  fibrous  or  thready  roots ;  and  he 
makes  this  all  the  more  probable  by  the  manner  in  which  he 
speaks  of  the  True  Maiden-Hair.  This,  he  says,  "  has  a  root 
which  consists  of  a  number  of  blackish-brown  fibres  or  threads, 
from  whence  springs  up  a  small,  low  herb,  not  above  a  span 
high,  whose  stalks  are  smaller,  finer,  redder,  and  more  shining 
than  those  of  the  Tric/wmancsy 

Aspleiiium,  as  we  have  seen,  is  likewise  an  old  name,  and  used 
to  be  applied  to  a  class  of  plants  which  were  held  to  be  specifics 
in  diseases  of  the  spleen.  In  bygone  times  the  shape  of  a  leaf 
was  believed  to  indicate  its  usefulness.  Thus  a  heart-shaped 
leaf  was  supposed  to  be  a  curative  in  heart  diseases ;  one  that 
was  kidney-shaped,  in  diseases  of  the  kidneys  ;  and  the  fact  that 
the  segments  of  the  fronds  of  some  of  these  ferns  somewhat 
resembled  the  shape  of  the  spleen,  seems  to  have  been  the  only 
reason  for  ascribing  to  them  their  presumed  medicinal  virtues. 
A  very  slender  foundation,  no  doubt !  Still,  these  things  were 
as  firmly  believed  by  our  forefathers  as  other  medical  matters 
are  believed  by  ourselves,  and  perhaps  with  no  more  reason. 
Dr.  Prior  quotes  an  old  writer  as  saying  that,  "  if  the  asse  be 
oppressed  with  melancholy,  he  eates  of  this  herbe,  Asplenion  or 
Miltwaste,  and  so  eases  himself  of  the  swelling  of  the  spleen." 
He   also   quotes   the    Roman   architect   Vitruvius,   who,   in   the 


ASPLENIUM    TRICHOMANES. ENGLISH    MAIDEN-IIAIR,  1 63 

fourth  chapter  of  the  first  of  his  "  Ten  Books  on  Architecture," 
when  discussing  the  advantages  and  disadvantages  of  the  sites 
to  be  selected  for  cities,  says  that  the  physicians  of  liis  time 
cured  diseases  of  the  spleen  by  means  of  Asplenium,  because  it 
was  found  that  the  sheep  on  one  side  of  the  river  Pothereus, 
in  the  island  of  Crete,  where  this  herb  grows,  had  smaller  spleens 
than  those  on  the  other  side,  where  it  does  not  grow.  This  does 
not,  indeed,  refer  to  our  present  species,  but  is  in  place,  as 
explaining  the  origin  of  the  name  Asplcnmm,  which  is  derived 
from  the  Greek  a,  privative,  and  splcn,  the  spleen. 

Although  most  of  the  "  virtues  "  formerly  attributed  to  Asple- 
nium  were,  as  we  have  seen,  mere  fancies,  our  present  species  Is, 
nevertheless,  not  without  some  merit.  Syrup  of  Capillaire  is 
very  popular  in  some  countries,  and  Is  said  to  be  of  real  service 
in  coughs  and  thoracic  diseases.  According  to  some  English 
writers  this  syrup  Is  made  of  our  plant,  although  Dr.  LIndley 
says  that  "  Capillaire  is  prepared  from  the  Adia7ihcm  Capilhis 
Veneris^  a  plant  which  is  considered  undoubtedly  pectoral,  and 
slightly  astringent,  though  its  decoction,  if  strong,  according  to 
Ainslie,  Is  a  certain  emetic." 

The  English  Maiden-Hair  Is  as  nearly  cosmopolitan  as  any 
species  may  well  be.  It  is  usually  found  growing  In  the  crev- 
ices of  damp,  shady  rocks;  and  according  to  Mr.  J.  H.  Red- 
field,  one  of  the  best  authorities  on  American  ferns,  the  possi- 
bility of  finding  such  a  situation  Is  the  only  condition  which 
limits  its  distribution  all  over  the  world.  Some  Eno-lish  au- 
thorities.  Indeed,  speak  of  it  as  occasionally  growing  on  damp 
earth  in  shady  places ;  but  as  a  rule,  old  damp  walls,  or  cold, 
shaded  rocks  are  given  as  its  place  of  abode  by  all  the  writers 
who  treat  of  it.  It  is  so  easily  found  that  few  authors  think  it 
worth  while  to  give  any  special  locality  for  it.  Prof.  Wood  is 
entirely  silent  in  regard  to  the  matter ;  Dr.  Gray  simply  says 
"common";  Darlington  speaks  of  It  as  frequent  "on  shady 
rocks  and  banks " ;  and  only  Dr.  Chapman,  in  his  "  Flora  of 
the  Southern    United    States,"    limits   it    by   "  rocks  along  the 


164  ASPLENIUM    TRICHOMANES. ENGLISH    MAIDEN-HAIR. 

Alleghanies  and  northward."  Dr.  Haskins,  in  the  "  Botanical 
Gazette,"  reports  having  gathered  it  in  Grayson  County,  Ky. ; 
and  collectors  in  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Ohio,  and  especially  in 
Michigan,  speak  of  it  as  abundant.  Mr.  Brandegee  collected  it 
in  Southern  Colorado ;  and  in  short,  as  Mr.  Redfield  observes,  it 
may  appear  wherever  the  conditions  are  favorable.  It  was  not 
found  by  the  early  botanists  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  as 
appears  by  Brereton's  catalogue,  but  is  now  included  in  the  list 
of  the  Potomac  Naturalists'  Club. 

Although  so  common,  the  Aspleniurn  Trichomancs  is,  in  our 
estimation,   one   of    the   most  delicately  beautiful   of    all    ferns. 
The  single  leaflets  are,  indeed,  rather  formal  In  outline,  but  thclr 
heaviness  is  relieved  by  the  prominent  veins  on  the  upper  sur- 
face, which   give   to   them   somewhat   the   appearance   of  being 
plaited.      The    contrast    between    the   leaflets    and   the   slender 
stipes  is  also  very  attractive,  and  calls  up  the  Idea  of  weakness 
and  strength  happily  united.     There  Is,  moreover,  a  great  deal 
of   intellectual   pleasure    to    be    derived    from   seeing  this  little 
plant  growing  in  its  native  locations.     Many  of   our  gay-flow- 
ering  plants    will    only    deign    to    exhibit    their    charms    in    a 
very  limited  circle  of  high  society,  where  they  arc  petted  and 
pampered.     But  this  little  fern,  like  a  good  angel,  goes  forth 
over  the  wide  world,  seeking  out  the  cold,  cheerless  spots  which 
are  despised  and   left  In  utter   loneliness   by  its   gayly  colored 
companions,  and  decks  them  with  an  elegant  and  chaste  beauty 
which  even  the  more  aristocratic  members  of  the  floral  kingdom 
might  envy.     If  any  poet  wishes  to  find  an  emblem  of  universal 
love,  and  of  charity  to  the  poor  and  forsaken,  he  cannot  certainly 
choose  anything  better   befitting    the    Idea    than    our    English 
Maiden-Hair. 


Explanation  ok  the  Plate.  — i.  Complete  plant  from  a  specimen  gathered  in  Massachu- 
setts. —  2.  Leaflet  enlarged,  showing  upper  surface.  —  3.  Leaflet  enlarged,  showing 
lower  surface  and  sporangia. 


Vol.  1 


Plate  42. 


MEMONE     CAROLIN.IANA 


L .  Pbang  &  Company,  Boston 


ANEMONE  CAROLINIANA. 

CAROLINA   ANEMONE. 

NATURAL  ORDER,  RANUNCULACE^E. 

Anemone  Caroliniana,  Walter. —  Stem  slender,  one-flowered;  peduncle  many  times  longer 
thaii  the  small,  sessile,  three-leaved,  three-toothed  involucre  ;  radical  leaves  two  to  three, 
long-petioled,  ternate,  deeply  parted,  lobed  and  toothed ;  sepals  fourteen  to  twenty, 
oblong,  white  ;  achenia  numerous  in  a  cylindrical-oblong  head,  woolly;  stems  six  to  twelve 
inches  high  ;  flowers  one  inch  in  diameter.  (Chajjman's  Flora  of  the  Southern  United 
States.  See  also  Gray's  Manual  of  the  Botany  of  the  Northern  United  States,  Wood's 
Class-Book  of  Botany,  and  Torrey  and  Gray's  Flora  of  North  Atnerica.) 

HE  reader  who  will  carefully  compare  Dr.  Chapman's 
description  with  our  plate  cannot  fail  to  be  startled  by 
the  discrepancy  in  regard  to  the  color  of  the  flower ;  for  while 
he  distinctly  and  unequivocally  states  the  color  to  be  zvhite, 
our  illustration  as  unmistakably  shows  it  to  be  violet  or  purple. 
The  discrepancy  will  be  readily  understood,  however,  by  those 
who  are  accustomed  to  deal  with  flowers.  Variations  in  color 
are  frequently  found,  and  the  Anemone  Caroliniana  affords  a 
good  example.  This  also  explains  why  the  various  authors 
differ  so  widely  in  speaking  of  the  flower.  Thus,  Dr.  Gray 
says,  "purple  or  whitish";  Prof.  Wood,  "white  or  rose-colored, 
.  .  .  outer  sepals  dotted  with  purple  " ;  and  Torrey  and  Gray, 
"white,  often  tinged  or  spotted  with  purple."  The  beautiful 
specimen  from  which  our  drawing  was  made,  and  which  was 
kindly  sent  to  us  from  Western  Kansas  by  Mr.  Sternberg, 
makes  it  evident  that  still  another  must  be  added  to  this  list  of 
variations,  namely,  violet  or  purplish. 

The  Anemone  is  frequently  mentioned  in  ancient  Greek  and 
Roman  mythology  and  poetry;  but  from  the  attending  circum- 
stances, it  seems  that  the  various  stories  with  which  the  name  is 


1 66       ANEMONE  CAROLINIANA. CAROLINA  ANEMONE. 

connected  relate  to  different  species  of  the  genus.  The  sad 
tale,  for  instance,  of  the  fair  maiden  who  fell  in  love  with 
Zephyr,  and  was  banished  from  her  court  by  Flora,  and  finally 
destroyed  by  the  rude  blasts  of  Boreas,  seems  to  be  most  in 
accord  with  the  character  of  the  Wind-Flower  or  Anemone 
7iemorosa ;  while  the  flower  which  is  involved  in  the  story  of 
Venus  and  Adonis  must  evidently  have  been  more  brilliant 
in  color,  and  somewhat  like  our  own  Anemone  Caroliniana.  It 
is  well  known  that  Venus,  or  Aphrodite,  as  the  Greeks  called 
her,  was  enamored  of  a  beautiful  mortal,  a  youth  named 
Adonis,  and  that  when  Adonis  had  been  killed  by  a  wild  boar 
while  hunting,  Venus  caused  flowers  to  spring  up  out  of  the 
blood  of  her  lover.  This  version  of  the  creation  of  Anemone  is 
related  by  Ovid,  the  celebrated  Roman  poet,  in  the  tenth  book 
of  his  "  Metamorphoses,"  and  has  been  translated  into  English 
by  Eusden  as  follows  :  — 

" '  For  thee,  lost  youth,  my  tears  and  restless  pain 
Shall  in  immortal  monuments  remain  ; 
With  solemn  pomp,  in  annual  rites  return'd, 
Be  thou  forever,  my  Adonis,  mourn 'd. 
Could  Pluto's  queen  with  jealous  fury  storm, 
And  Menthe  to  a  fragrant  herb  transform, 
Yet  dares  not  Venus  with  a  change  surprise, 
And  in  a  flower  bid  her  fallen  hero  rise  ? ' 
Then  on  the  blood  sweet  nectar  she  bestows  ; 
The  scented  blood  in  little  bubbles  rose,  — 
Little  as  rainy  drops  which  fluttering  fly, 
Borne  by  the  winds,  along  a  lowering  sky. 
Short  time  ensued  till,  where  the  blood  was  shed, 
A  flower  began  to  rear  its  purple  head. 

■  •  •  •  • 

Still  here  the  fate  of  lovely  forms  we  see, 
So  sudden  fades  the  sweet  anemone." 

Shakespeare  also,  in  his  poem  entitled  "  Venus  and  Adonis," 
mentions  this  myth  :  — 

"  By  this,  the  boy  that  by  her  side  lay  killed 
Was  melted  like  a  vapor  from  her  sight ; 
And  in  his  blood,  that  on  the  ground  lay  spilled, 
A  purple  flower  sprang  up,  chequered  with  white." 


ANEMONE    CAROLINIANA. CAROLINA    ANEMONE.  1 6/ 

It  will  be  noticed  that  Ovid's  "  purple  head "  agrees  quite 
well  with  the  variety  represented  by  our  drawing,  while  Shake- 
speare's "  purple,  chequered  with  white,"  answers  tolerably  well 
to  Torrey  and  Gray's  "  white,  spotted  with  purple." 

We  must,-  however,  break  through  the  spell  of  the^e  poetical 
illusions,  which  have  carried  us  far  away  to  the  sunny  lands  of 
Greece  and  Italy,  and  return  to  the  truth  of  reality  by  remem- 
bering that  our  Anemone  Caroliniana  cannot  be  absolutely  iden- 
tical with  the  flower  born  from  the  blood  of  Adonis,  as  it  is 
specifically  American.  It  differs  from  many  of  its  kindred  also 
in  its  places  of  growth;  for  while  some  Anemones  prefer  to  grow 
in  the  recesses  of  deep  forests,  and  while  the  delicate  A.  nemo- 
rosa  seeks  the  shade  of  scattered  woods,  the  Caroliniana  delights 
in  open  places,  and  in  the  full  blaze  of  the  western  sun.  If  we 
may  be  permitted  once  more  to  indulge  in  a  poetical  revery,  we 
might  almost  imagine  our  flower  as  fleeing  from  the  dangerous 
localities  w^iich,  in  their  cosy  seclusion,  are  so  well  fitted  to  be 
the  abodes  of  lovers,  and  seeking  the  broad  light  of  day,  so  as  to 
avoid  the  sad  fate  which  befell  her  unfortunate  sister,  whom  she 
had  seen  — 

"  Loving  with  all  the  wild  devotion, 
That  deep  and  passionate  emotion  ; 
Loving  with  all  the  snow-white  truth 
That  is  found  but  in  early  youth  ; 
Freshness  of  feeling,  as  of  flower, 
That  lives  not  more  than  spring's  first  hour." 

We  have  just  said  that  the  Carolina  Anemone  delights  in  the 
blaze  of  the  western  sun,  and  indeed  its  geographical  range 
extends  across  the  plains  to  the  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
and  thence  takes  a  southerly  course  (if  Mr.  Watson's  view  be 
adopted,  that  it  is  the  same  as  A.  dccapctala),  through  Utah, 
Arizona,  and  New  Mexico,  to  Peru,  Chili,  and  Brazil.  This 
shows  that  its  geographical  centre  must  be  to  the  south,  while 
the  centres  of  most  other  common  kinds  of  Anemone  lie  towards 
the  north.     It  also  becomes  evident  from  this  that  the  name  of 


I  68       ANEMONE  CAROLINIANA. CAROLINA  ANEMONE. 

the    plant    is   not   very  aptly  chosen,  as  its   range   extends   far 
beyond  the  limits  of  the  Carolinas. 

The  root-structure  of  our  species  is  worthy  of  a  more  com- 
plete study  than  we  have  been  able  to  give  to  it.     As  far  as  we 
can  ascertain,  the  travelling  rhizoma,  or  rootstock,  produces  a 
succession  of  small  tubers,  which  throw  up  leaves,  or  leaves  and 
flowers,  the  season  following  that  in  which  they  were  produced. 
Generally,  the  tuber  is  formed  by  the  thickening  of  the  end  of 
the  rhizoma,  as  in  the  potato.     A  rhizoma  is  really  a  stem,  with 
this  difference  only,  — that  instead  of  growing  above,  it  grows 
under  ground.     In  the  case  of  the  potato,  the  thread-like  growth 
of  the  rootstock  as  soon  as  it  has  advanced  six  inches  or  so  from 
the  parent  stem,  thickens,  and  forms  a  tuber,  which  we  call  a 
potato  ;  but  occasionally  this  tuber  will  start  a  new  growth  from 
its  apex  the  same  season,  which  again  thickens  at  its  end,  and 
from  this  second  tuber  even  a  third  rootstock  sometimes  strikes 
out,  which  also  forms  a  potato  at  its  end,  so  that  finally  the  whole 
assumes  something  of  the  shape  of  a  necklace,  or  of  large  beads 
strung  upon  a  string  at  certain  intervals,  the  end,  however,  being 
always  a  tuber.     Our  Anemone  grows  in  the  same  way.     On  the 
right-hand  side  of  our  drawing  we  see  the  remains  of  the  root- 
stock  growth  of  last  year,  which  connected  with  the  plant  of 
that  season.     This,  we  believe,  dies  at  the  end  of  the  year.     We 
see,  also,  that  after  making  one  small  tuber  our  plant  started  to 
make  another,  and  as  this  second  was  stronger  than  the  first,  it 
was  able  to   make   three  flowers,  while  the  first  had   but  one. 
On  the  left,  we   have   the  growth  made   since  the  last  year's 
tubers  threw  up  their  leaves  and  flowers,  and  this   new   root- 
stock  is  also  thickening  for  a  tuber  for  the  next  season. 

The  Carolina  Anemone,  if  we  may  judge  from  its  western 
location,  in  a  hot,  dry  region,  will  be  very  well  adapted  to  garden 
culture.  In  our  own  garden,  it  has  taken  good  care  of  itself  for 
two  years;  and  its  bright,  purple  flowers,  opening  before  the 
first  of  May,  among  the  many  white  flowers  of  that  season,  ren- 
der  its    presence   in   the    garden-border  very  desirable   indeed. 


Vol..  1 


Plate  4 •3. 


Rosa  Capomna 


ROSA    CAROLIiNA. 

SWAMP    ROSE. 

NATURAL   ORDER,    ROSACEA. 

Rosa  Carolina.  Linnaeus.  —  Stem  erect,  smooth,  armed  with  stout,  recurved,  stipular  prickles; 
leaflets  five  to  nine,  oblong  or  elliptical,  acute,  finely  serrate,  dull  and  smoothish  above, 
the  lower  surface  paler,  or,  like  the  prickly  petioles  and  caudate  calyx-lobes,  tomentose ; 
flowers  single  or  corymbose ;  calyx-tube  and  peduncles  glandular-hispid  ;  stem  four  to  six 
feet  high,  commonly  purplish;  fruit  depressed-globose,  glandular.  (Chapman's  Flora  of 
the  Southern  United  States.  See  also  Gray's  Manual  of  the  Botany  of  the  Northern  United 
States,  and  Wood's  Class-Book  of  Botany.) 

HE  botanists  of  the  earlier  part  of  this  century  frequently 
gave  specific  names  to  mere  varieties,  since  they  were 
not  as  well  informed  as  those  of  our  own  time  in  regard  to  the 
tendency  to  variation  in  plants  and  flowers,  a  tendency  which  is 
shown  much  more  distinctly  in  some  species  than  in  others.  But 
later,  when  it  was  not  thought  necessary  to  specially  note  these 
variations,  their  names,  previously  given,  often  remained  as  syno- 
nyms to  burden  botanical  nomenclature ;  and  hence  the  greater 
the  tendency  to  vary,  the  more  synonyms  a  plant  may  have. 
Our  Rosa  Caj^olina,  being  a  very  variable  species,  furnishes  a 
good  illustration  of  this  statement.  From  the  list  of  synonyms 
given  by  Mr.  Watson  in  his  "  Bibliographical  Index  to  North 
American  Botany "  we  select  the  following  as  of  most  impor- 
tance: R.  Virginiana,  by  Du  Roi ;  R.  corymbosa,  by  Ehrhart; 
R.  Caroliniensis  and  R.  palustris,  by  Marshall ;  R.  Pcniisylva- 
iiica,  by  Michaux ;  R.  Jiorida,  by  Don;  R.  Jiextiosa  and  R.  ennea- 
phylla,  by  Rafinesque ;  and  R.  Hudsonica,  by  Thory.  Several  of 
these  names  show  that  they  were  based  on  the  number  of  flowers 
in  a  cluster,  or  of  leaflets  in  the  leaf,  or  on  other  peculiarities 


I  70  ROSA   CAROLINA. SWAMP    ROSE. 

which  are  now  known  to  be  of  Httle  consequence  In  the  Rose, 
although  they  may  perhaps  be  of  some  weight  in  other  genera. 

Of  all  our  native  species,  the  Rosa  Carolina  is  23erhaps  the 
most  variable,  not  only  as  a  garden  plant,  but  even  in  its  wild 
state.  Like  other  Roses  in  their  natural  condition,  it  has  nor- 
mally only  five  petals ;  but  flowers  with  a  larger  number  are  not 
unfrequently  found,  and  Humphrey  Marshall,'in  his  "  Arbustum 
Americanum,"  published  in  1785,  describes  a  perfectly  double 
Rose,  which  seems  to  be  identical  with  our  species,  although  he 
calls  it  R.  Pennsylvanica  plena.  Rafinesque,  indeed,  seems  to 
have  found  several  double  forms.  He  notes  not  less  than  seven 
different  varieties,  to  which.  In  accordance  with  the  custom  of 
his  day,  he  gave  Latin  varietal  names,  such  as  corymdosa^  tmi- 
Jlora,  alba,  erecta,  and  phnpinellifolia,  which  latter,  he  says,  may 
have  single  or  double  flowers,  and  very  small  leaves.  He  adds 
by  way  of  conclusion :  "  There  are  many  varieties,  several  of 
which  have  produced  double  flowers  in  gardens."  These  varie- 
ties were,  no  doubt,  first  discovered  in  a  wild  state,  and  then 
transplanted  to  the  garden,  although  our  author  states  that  they 
are  found  In  cultivation. 

Among  the  many  varieties  mentioned  by  Rafinesque,  the 
white  one  {alba)  Is  especially  Interesting  in  connection  with 
the  legendary  history  of  the  Rose.  From  the  various  stories 
of  the  birth  of  this  flower.  It  is  evident  that  the  original  Rose 
was  conceived  to  be  white,  and  that  the  colored  varieties  were 
looked  upon  as  a  departure  from  the  state  of  nature.  This  Idea 
is  embodied  In  the  following  lines  by  one  of  the  poets :  — 

"As  erst,  in  Eden's  blissful  bowers, 
Young  Eve  surveyed  her  countless  flowers, 
An  opening  rose  of  purest  white 
She  marked  with  eye  that  beamed  delight. 
Its  leaves  she  kissed,  and  straight  it  drew 
From  beauty's  lip  the  vermil  hue." 

But  whatever  may  have  been  the  fact  In  regard  to  the  Roses 
of  the   primeval  world,  it  Is  nevertheless  true   that,  among  our 


ROSA    CAROLINA. SWAMP    ROSE.  I7I 

native  Roses,  color  is  the  rule  and  white  the  variety;  and  the 
latter  is  indeed  so  scarce  that  we  know  of  no  author  but 
Rafinesque  w^ho  refers  to  it.  The  white  varieties  seem  to  have 
disappeared  even  from  cultivation,  as  we  have  met  with  no  one 
who  has  seen  any  of  late  years. 

The  Swamp  Rose  has  not  the  grateful  perfume  of  the  Dwarf 
Wild  Rose,  nor  has  it  the  perfectly  outlined  petals,  or  the 
classical  look  in  general,  of  that  species.  The  flowers,  indeed, 
have  a  somewhat  loose  and  ragged  appearance ;  but  the  plant, 
nevertheless,  presents  certain  features  which  delight  the  eye. 
It  is  generally  found  growing  in  large  numbers  together,  often 
covering  a  whole  acre  or  so;  and  in  June,  when  the  bushes  are 
in  their  flowering  prime,  the  mass  of  blossoms  is  beautiful  to 
look  upon ;  while  in  the  autumn,  when  the  leaves  of  our  plant 
are  of  an  orange  brown,  and  all  the  bushes  are  aglow  with  the 
crimson,  berry-like  fruit,  there  is  hardly  a  more  attractive  sight 
to  be  seen.  The  height  of  the  Swamp  Rose  is  about  twice  that 
of  the  Dwarf  Wild  Rose,  and  the  peculiar  gray  of  the  under 
surface  of  the  leaves,  together  with  the  dull,  dark  green  of  the 
upper  surface,  affords  a  good  mark  of  distinction.  The  two  will 
seldom,  indeed,  be  confounded  by  the  careful  student,  no  matter 
how  much  the  Swamp  Rose  may  vary  from  its  original  form ; 
but  if  there  should  be  any  difficulty  in  determining  the  species, 
the  spines  will  decide  the  question,  as  they  are  straight  in  the 
Dwarf  Wild  Rose,  and  hooked  in  the  present  species.  In  the 
latter,  the  calyx  leaves  also  remain  on  the  fruit  much  longer 
than  in  the  former,  but  they  fall  completely  before  winter  sets 
in.  On  the  specimen  represented  in  Fig.  2  of  our  plate,  they 
are  still  partly  to  be  seen ;  and  we  may  here  remark  that,  while 
botanical  authors  speak  of  the  fruit  as  "  depressed-globose,"  our 
drawing  is  a  faithful  representation  from  nature. 

The  attention  of  the  poets  has,  so  far,  been  given  to  the 
Roses  of  the  Old  World  almost  entirely ;  and  indeed  the  only 
direct  poetical  allusion  to  any  of  our  native  species  that  we  can 
find  is  by  Mrs.  Sarah  J.  Hale,  who  makes  our  Swamp  Rose  the 


172  ROSA    CAROLINA. SWAMP    ROSE. 

emblem  of  dangerous  love  in  the  language  of  flowers.  In  gen- 
eral character,  our  species  approaches  very  near  to  the  R.  cin- 
namomea,  or  Cinnamon  Rose  of  Europe,  of  which  there  is  a 
thornless  variety,  and  the  Swamp  Rose  is  also  frequently  found 
very  sparingly  armed.  In  that  interesting  book  entitled 
"  Legends  of  the  Rose,"  we  are,  indeed,  told  that  all  Roses  were 
originally  thornless,  and  the  flower  itself  is  thus  made  to  explain 
the  existence  of  the  thorns  :  — 

"  Young  Love,  rambling  through  the  wood, 
Found  me  in  my  solitude, 
Bright  with  dew  and  freshly  blown, 
And  trembling  to  the  zephyr's  sighs  ; 
But  as  he  stooped  to  gaze  upon 
The  living  gem  with  raptured  eyes, 
It  chanced  a  bee  was  busy  there, 
Searching  for  its  fragrant  fare  ; 
And  Cupid,  stooping  too,  to  sip, 
The  angry  insect  stung  his  lip, 
And  gushing  from  the  ambrosial  cell, 
One  bright  drop  on  my  bosom  fell. 

Weeping  to  his  mother,  he 
Told  the  tale  of  treachery ; 
And  she,  her  vengeful  boy  to  please, 
Strung  his  bow  with  captive  bees  ; 
But  placed  upon  my  slender  stem. 
The  poisoned  stings  she  plucked  from  them, 
And  none,  since  that  eventful  morn, 
Have  found  the  flowers  without  a  thorn." 

The  Swamp  Rose  is  at  home  along  the  seaboard,  from  Maine 
to  Florida,  but  beyond  the  Mississippi  it  occurs  only  in  Iowa 
and  in  the  eastern  part  of  Nebraska,  and  as  far  as  we  know,  it 
has  never  yet  been  found  either  directly  north  or  south  of  these 
states. 


Explanation  of  the  Plate.  —  i.     Flowering  branch  from  a  Massachusetts  specimen  gath- 
ered toward  the  end  of  June.  —  2.     Fruit  from  Pennsylvania  in  October. 


VOL, 


Plate  44. 


Pack YST  ^  ma   Canbyi 


PACHYSTIMA   CANBYI. 

CANBY'S   MOUNTAIN-LOVER. 

NATURAL   ORDER,   CELASTRACE^. 

Pachystima  Canbyi,  Gray.  —  Surculosely  creeping  ;  leaves  oblong-linear,  slightly  denticulate  ; 
pedicel  filiform,  elongated  ;  petals  oblong-ovate  ;  style  very  short.  (Gray,  in  Proceedings 
of  the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences.) 

HE  plant  which  we  are  about  to  introduce  to  our  readers 
I  is  one  of  those  which  do  not  attract  by  showy  flowers. 
Nevertheless,  the  rich  hue  of  its  evergreen  leaves  gives  it  a 
unique  character  among  our  native  plants,  and  will  make  it 
valuable  in  the  eyes  of  those  who  love  beautiful  foliage,  while 
readers  of  a  more  scientific  turn  of  mind  will  find  much  of 
interest  in  its  family  history.  The  genus  Pachystima  consists 
of  only  two  species,  and  was  not  known  until  the  celebrated 
expedition  made  across  the  continent  by  Lewis  and  Clarke  in 
the  years  1803- 1806,  when  specimens  of  one  of  the  species  were 
brought  home  from  the  Rocky  Mountains  by  Lewis.  Pursh 
thought  it  was  a  holly,  and  so  named  it  Ilex  Myrsinites.  Nut- 
tall,  with  probably  better  specimens  before  him  than  Pursh, 
made  it  out  to  be  a  Myginda,  which  was  much  nearer  the  truth, 
as  Myginda  is  a  genus  of  the  order  CelastracecE,  to  which  our 
plant  belongs.  Later,  Nuttall  himself  discovered  essential  differ- 
ences between  Myginda  and  the  plant  originally  discovered  by 
Lewis,  and  established  the  latter  as  a  new  genus,  under  the 
name  of  Oreophila.  Rafinesque,  however,  had  already  discovered 
the  distinction,  and  had  named  the  genus  Pachystima  before 
Nuttall  published  his  name,  and  Rafinesque's  name,  therefore, 
was  generally  adopted,  in  accordance  with  the  ethics  of  botany, 


174  PACHYSTIMA    CANBYI. CANBY  S    MOUNTAIN-LOVER. 

which  demand  that  the  name  first  published  with  a  description 
showing  the  distinctive  character  of  the  plant  to  which  it  is 
applied  shall  have  precedence. 

The  derivation  of  Rafinesque's  generic  name,  Pac/iystima,  is 
not  clear.  The  pedicel,  or  flower-stalk,  is  filiform,  as  given  in 
Dr.  Gray's  description,  but  thickens  just  beneath  the  receptacle 
in  both  the  species  belonging  to  the  genus,  and  if  the  "  thick- 
ness," which  the  name  implies,  refers  to  this  feature,  it  would 
seem  to  be  appropriate.  Rafinesque  adopted  Pursh  s  specific 
name  for  the  only  species  then  known,  and  thus  we  had  Pachy- 
stima  Myrsinites.  In  Torrey  and  Gray's  "  Flora  of  the  United 
States  "  it  is,  however,  described  under  Nuttall's  manuscript 
name  of  Oreophila  myrtifolia^  or  Myrtle-leaved  Mountain-Lover, 
in  allusion  both  to  the  character  of  its  foliage  and  its  home  in 
the  mountains.  This  species,  the  P.  Myrsinites,  has  since  been 
found  in  many  of  the  mountain  localities  in  the  Northwest  and 
in  British  North  America. 

The  second  species,  Pachystima  Canbyi,  was  not  discovered 
till  1858,  when  it  was  seen  by  Mr.  William  M.  Canby,  of  Wil- 
mington, Del.,  on  a  bluff  along  the  New  River,  near  White 
Sulphur  Springs,  Va. ;  but  it  was  only  in  1868  that  Mr.  Canby 
was  able  to  procure  good  specimens,  from  which  Dr.  Gray 
described  and  named  the  plant.  Subsequently,  our  species  has 
been  collected  in  several  other  places  in  Virginia  by  Mr.  Howard 
Shriver,  and  it  is  quite  likely  that  it  will  be  found  not  uncommon 
along  the  great  Alleghany  ridge. 

The  order  Celastracece,  to  which  Pachystima  belongs,  is  nearly 
allied  to  the  Rkaimiacece,  or  buckthorns,  but  differs  from  them 
in  several  particulars,  the  most  characteristic  being  that  the 
stamens  in  the  latter  are  always  opposite  the  petals,  provided 
these  are  present ;  while  in  the  former  they  are  alternate  with 
them,  as  shown  in  our  enlarged  flower  (Fig.  3),  where  they 
are  seen  fronting  the  larger  sepals,  the  smaller,  oblong-ovate 
petals  lying  between.  Cclastraccce  itself  is  not  a  very  large 
order,  but  is,  nevertheless,  tolerably  well  known  to  most  persons 


PACHYSTIMA    CANBYI. CANBY  S    MOUNTAIN-LOVER.  I  75 

from  the  Euonymiis,  familiarly  called  the  "  Spindle -Tree  "  or 
"  Burnino-.Bush."  The  order  is  ao;ain  divided  into  two  "general 
sections,  the  one  to  which  the  Eiionymus  belongs  having  a 
rather  dry  capsule,  opening  to  let  out  the  somewhat  fleshy  seed ; 
while  the  other,  in  which  our  Pachystima  is  placed,  has  drupa- 
cious  fruit,  or  in  plahi  English,  a  kind  of  fruit  which  resembles 
stone-fruit.  With  the  easily  obtained  Etwnymus  before  him. 
the  student  can  readily  gain  a  fair  idea  of  the  two  divisions  of 
the  order.  The  berries  on  our  species,  however,  seem  to  be 
sparingly  produced,  and  the  only  ones  we  ever  saw  were  in  a 
dry  condition  on  Mr.  Canby's  specimens.  Although  the  plant 
from  which  the  accompanying  plate  was  drawn  has  flowered 
freely  in  cultivation  for  several  years,  it  has  never  produced  any 
fruit ;  but  as  in  the  case  of  the  flowers  themselves,  it  is  not 
likely  that  the  berries  would  add  much  beauty  to  our  pretty 
evergreen  plant. 

The  fact  just  alluded  to,  that  the  Pachystima  Canbyi  pro- 
duces berries  but  sparingly,  opens  up  a  question  which  was 
already  discussed  by  the  botanists  of  the  preceding  generation, 
in  connection  with  the  sister  species,  P.  Myrsinites.  The  ques- 
tion is,  whether  the  plant  may  not  prove  to  be,  in  many  cases, 
monoecious,  or  even,  practically  at  least,  dioecious.  Nuttall  be- 
lieved P.  Myrsinites  to  be  monoecious,  or  having  the  male  or- 
gans in  one  set  of  flowers,  and  the  female  organs  in  another. 
Torrey  and  Gray,  on  the  contrary,  thought  it  must  be  her- 
maphrodite, or  with  both  kinds  of  organs  in  each  flower,  more 
especially  so  as  Sir  William  Hooker  had  figured  it  that  way. 
But  modern  experience  shows  us  that  even  when  both  kinds  of 
organs  are  apparently  perfect,  the  one  or  the  other  may  be  de- 
fective, and  hence  the  plant  may  be  practically  monoecious,  or 
indeed  even  dioecious,  if  it  should  so  happen  that  on  some  indi- 
viduals all  the  male  organs  are  defective,  and  on  others  all  the 
female  organs.  The  flowers  on  our  plant  seem  perfect,  but,  as 
already  stated,  produce  no  fruit. 

The  plant  increases  by  branches  running  under  the  ground. 


1/6  PACHYSTIMA    CANBYI. CANB.y's    MOUNTAIN-LOVER. 

and  rooting,  if  the  soil  be  light,  or  by  sending  out  roots  from 
branches  that  find  themselves  near  the  ground,  or  covered  by 
loose  vegetable  matter.  The  early  spring-shoots  have  the  leaves 
very  variable  in  form,  from  linear  to  ovate,  and  much  more 
sharply  denticulate  than  those  which  appear  on  a  second  growth 
of  branches,  sent  out  later  in  the  season.  It  is  on  these  later 
branches  that  the  flowers  appear  in  the  following  spring. 

To  cultivators  the  plant  will  prove  very  acceptable  as  an  ever- 
green dwarf  bush.  In  the  writer's  garden  it  has  a  frame,  a 
shallow,  bottomless  box,  a  few  inches  deep,  placed  around  it, 
filled  with  sand,  into  which  it  seems  to  love  to  root.  The 
rooted  pieces  are  easily  transplanted  to  form  other  colonies. 
Little  pieces  of  cuttings  also  root  very  well  in  pans  of  sand,  set 
in  an  ordinary  green-house. 

The  fact  that  a  distinct  genus  like  Pachystima  should  have 
only  two  representatives,  and  these  confined  to  limited  areas 
over  this  great  continent,  will  be  a  subject  of  speculation  with 
those  interested  in  the  genesis  of  plant-forms.  Are  these  species 
new  forms,  which  have  appeared  comparatively  quite  recently, 
and  which  by  and  by  will  become  more  numerous  by  developing 
into  varieties  and  other  species,  or  are  they  very  old  forms,  now 
in  process  of  extinction  }  The  time  may  come  when  there  will 
be  circumstantial  evidence  sufficient  to  answer  these  questions, 
and  the  earnest  attention  which  they  command  among  scientific 
men  at  the  present  time  springs  from  the  belief  that  it  will 
eventually  be  possible  to  answer  them  satisfactorily. 

Our  plant  has  absolutely  no  common  name,  and  by  way  of 
rectifying  this  omission  we  have  ventured  to  call  it  "  Canby's 
Mountain-Lover,"  for  reasons  which  must  have  become  apparent 
to  the  reader  in  the  course  of  this  article. 


Explanation  ok  the  Plate. —  i.  Main  brancli,  with  secondary  brandies,  showing  the 
denticulation  of  the  leaves.  —  2.  ISranchlct  of  the  second  growth,  witli  entire  leaves,  in 
flower  ill  spring.  —  3.  P'iower  magnified,  showing  the  position  of  the  anthers,  and  the 
symmetrical  arrangement  of  all  the  parts. 


Vol.  I 


Plate  45. 


Spiranthes    CERNUA. 

L.i'RAn.J  A;  COMPiVNV,  BOSTON. 


SPIRANTHES    CERNUA. 

DROOPING-FLOWERED    LADIES'    TRACES. 

NATURAL   ORDER,    ORCHIDACEyE. 

Spiranthes  CERNUA,  Richard.  —  Stem  leafy  below  and  leafy  bracted  above,  six  to  twenty 
inches  high;  leaves  linear-lanceolate,  the  lowest  elongated,  four  to  twelve  inches  long, 
two  to  four  lines  wide ;  spike  cylindrical,  rather  dense,  two  to  five  inches  long,  and  with 
the  flowers  either  pubescent  or  nearly  smooth;  perianth  horizontal  or  recurving,  the 
lower  sepals  not  upturned  or  connivent  with  the  upper ;  lip  oblong  and  very  obtuse  when 
outspread,  but  conduplicate  or  the  margins  much  incurved,  wavy-crisped  above  the 
middle,  especially  at  the  flatfish  and  recurved-spreading  apex,  the  callosities  at  the  base 
prominent,  nipple-shaped,  somewhat  hairy;  gland  of  the  stigma  linear,  in  a  long  and 
very  slender  beak.  (Gray's  Manual  of  the  Botany  of  the  Northern  United  States.  See 
also  Wood's  Class- Book  of  Botany.) 

HE  plants  now  called  Spiranthes  were  placed  in  the 
genus  Ophrys  by  Linnaeus,  and  in  that  of  Neottia  by  his 
contemporary  Willdenow,  and  under  the  names  of  these  genera 
they  must  be  looked  for  by  the  historical  investigator.  Our 
own  botanist  Nuttall,  in  his  earlier  works,  classes  them  with 
Neottia,  but  in  his  later  writings  (1S27),  he  calls  them  ''Spiran- 
thes, a  section  of  the  genus  Neottia'.'  The  genera  Ophrys  and 
Neottia  still  exist,  and  have  given  their  names  to  two  of  the 
various  tribes  into  which  the  order  Oi'-chidacecc  is  divided ;  but 
Spiranthes  has  now  been  universally  adopted  as  the  generic 
name  of  the  plants  to  which  our  species  belongs,  even  by 
English  authors,  with  whom  the  old  Neottia  spiralis  is  at 
present  Spiranthes  antnmnalis.  This  last-named  plant  is  prob- 
ably the  only  representative  of  the  genus  in  England,  nearly 
all  of  the  fifty  species  or  so  which  compose  it  being  natives 
of  the  New  World,  although  only  a  very  few  of  them  are 
found   within   the   limits   of  the    United   States. 


178       SPIRANTHES  CERNUA. DROOPING-FLOWERED  LADIES'  TRACES. 

Among  our  American  genera  there  are  two,  besides  Spiran- 
t/ies,  which  belong  to  the  tribe  Neottecr,  namely,  Goodya'-a  and 
Listera,  Spiranthes  being  intermediate  between  them.  All  the 
species  of  the  genus  Spiranthes  have  a  callous  protuberance 
at  the  base  on  each  side  of  the  lip,  while  those  of  the  other  two 
genera  have  none;  Listera  has  all  the  sepals  and  petals  spreading, 
and  thus  differs  from  its  fellows,  the  petals  of  the  latter  being 
so  arranged  as  to  be  ringent  (or  gaping)  at  the  base.  Many 
other  peculiarities  of  more  or  less  importance  might  be  pointed 
out  as  characteristic  of  the  different  genera,  but  it  is  hardly 
necessary  to  do  this,  as  there  is  seldom  any  difficulty  in  deter- 
mining the  genus  of  these  plants  from  their  general  appearance. 
The  species,  on  the  contrary,  are  very  difficult  of  determination, 
as  there  are  many  varieties  of  each,  which,  by  their  great  ap- 
parent differences,  are  calculated  to  puzzle  the  student.  Of 
S.  cernua,  for  instance,  according  to  Dr.  Gray,  the  commoner 
form  has  pure  white,  sweet-scented  flowers,  grows  in  wet  places, 
and  often  loses  nearly  all  its  root-leaves  at  flowering-time,  while 
one  variety  grows  in  dry  ground,  has  greenish,  cream-colored, 
stronger-scented  flowers,  and  retains  its  root-leaves. 

The  old  name  Neottia  is  Greek  for  bird's  nest,  and  was 
given  to  our  plants,  says  an  old  writer,  "  because  the  plaiting  of 
the  roots  one  among  another  resembled  a  crow's  nest."  Spiran- 
thes is  also  from  the  Greek,  speira  meaning  a  spiral  or  coil,  and 
anthos  a  flower,  and  seems  to  have  been  suggested  by  the  appar- 
ently twisted  arrangement  of  the  flowers,  which  strikes  every 
observer.  The  old  English  name  was  "  Ladies'  Traces,"  from 
the  resemblance  of  the  twisted  spikes  to  the  silken  cords  or 
laces,  formerly  called  "  traces,"  with  which  fair  dames  used  to 
gird  themselves  and  fasten  their  various  articles  of  dress  before 
hooks  and  eyes,  buttons,  pins,  and  the  like  were  invented.  The 
word  has  become  almost  obsolete  in  this  connection  now,  being 
applied  only  to  the  cords  or  ropes  by  which  horses  are  attached 
to  the  plough,  or  to  the  leather  straps  of  more  pretentious  har- 
ness.     The   original   meaning   of  the  word   having  thus  been 


SPIRANTHES  CERNUA. DROOPING-FLOWERED  LADIES    TRACES.       I  79 

forgotten,  modern  authors  spell  the  name  of  our  plant  "  tresses," 
and  suppose  It  to  have  been  adopted  from  the  resemblance  to  a 
tress  or  curl  of  hair ;  and  perhaps  the  two  words  may  originally 
have  been  derived  from  one  root,  for  certainly  many  flowing 
tresses  have  proved  to  be  the  traces  by  which  masculine  hearts 
were  chained  to  the  triumphal  car  of  beauty. 

The  specific  name,  cernua,  is  from  the  Latin,  and  alludes  to 
the  habit  which  the  flowers  have  of  turning  their  faces  down- 
ward. Spiranthcs  cer7iua  might,  therefore,  be  called  in  English 
"  Drooping-flowered  Ladies'  Traces." 

We  have  already  noted  that  there  are  many  varieties  of  the 
different  species  of  Ladies'  Traces ;  and  in  view  of  this  fact,  it 
will  be  best  for  the  student  to  consider  all  the  characteristics 
very  carefully  in  trying  to  determine  a  species,  and  then  to  strike 
an  average  from  the  whole.  There  are  several  points,  however, 
which  will  materially  assist  the  young  botanist.  The  first  of 
these  is  the  division  of  the  orenus  into  two  sections.  Accordine 
to  Dr.  Gray,  the  species  in  one  of  these  sections  have  the  flow- 
ers in  three  ranks,  crowded  in  a  close  spike,  while  those  in  the 
second  have  the  flowers  in  one  straight  or  spirally  twisted  rank. 
In  the  latter  case,  we  may  picture  the  arrangement  of  the  flow- 
ers to  ourselves  if  we  imagine  them  set  upon  a  string,  and  this 
string  wound  in  a  spiral  around  a  stick ;  in  the  first  case,  there 
are  three  such  strings  running  closely  parallel  to  each  other, 
and  also  twisted  round  the  stick  as  before  indicated.  Our 
present  species  belongs  to  this  three-ranked  division.  Dr. 
Chapman  and  Prof.  Wood  have  essentially  the  same  arrange- 
ment. The  roots  also  offer  some  good  specific  characters,  being 
a  mass  of  fleshy  fibres  in  some  species,  as  in  Spiranthes  cernua 
(Fig.  3),  and  quite  tuber-like  in  others.  In  some  cases,  again, 
the  rachis,  that  is  to  say,  that  part  of  the  stem  to  which  the 
flowers  are  attached,  is  perfectly  straight,  and  only  the  flowers 
seem  coiled  around  it,  while  in  other  species  it  is  screw-like,  and 
seems  to  carry  the  flowers  with  it  as  it  coils. 

The  interest  which  the  orchidaceous  plants  have  always  in- 


l8o      SPIRANTI-IES  CERNUA. DROOPING-FLOWERED  LADIES'  TRACES. 

spired  has  been  considerably  increased  by  the  pubHcation  of  Mr. 
Darwin's  writings,  and  more  especially  by  his  work  on  the 
"  Fertilization  of  Orchids."  In  this  book,  the  celebrated  evolu- 
tionist devotes  considerable  space  to  the  genus  Spiranthes^  and 
also  mentions  our  species,  S.  cermia.  After  a  thorough  discus- 
sion of  the  matter,  he  comes  to  the  conclusion  that  everything 
in  these  plants  is  most  beautifully  contrived  so  "that  the  i^ollinia 
should  be  withdrawn  by  insects  visiting  the  flowers";  and  finally 
closes  his  remarks  with  the  following  sentence  :  "  Then,  as  soon 
as  the  bee  arrives  at  the  summit  of  the  spike,  she  will  with- 
draw fresh  pollinia,  will  fly  to  the  flowers  on  another  plant,  and 
fertilize  them,  and  thus,  as  she  goes  her  rounds  and  adds  to  her 
store  of  honey,  she  continually  fertilizes  fresh  flowers,  and  per- 
petuates the  race  of  our  autumnal  SpiraiitJies,  which  will  yield 
honey  to  future  generations  of  bees." 

It  is  very  singular  that  a  plant  with  such  a  suggestive  com- 
mon name  should  never  have  attracted  the  attention  of  the 
poets ;  and  yet  this  seems  to  be  the  case,  at  least  as  far  as  our 
own  reading  extends.  The  fact  appears  still  more  remarkable 
when  we  consider  the  delicious  fragrance  of  the  flower  and  the 
peculiar  circumstances  under  which  it  is  found,  often  growing 
entirely  alone,  far  away  from  its  orchidaceous  relations,  and 
coming  into  flower  long  after  most  of  the  family  have  betaken 
themselves  to  rest. 

Our  species  seems  to  be  confined  to  the  Eastern  States,  and 
to  be  found  very  seldom,  if  ever,  beyond  the  Mississippi ;  but, 
like  some  of  the  other  members  of  the  same  family,  it  generally 
grows  in  considerable  quantities  wherever  it  does  occur. 


Explanation  of  the  Plate.  —  i.    Flower-scape.  —  2.    Central  portion  of  scape,  showing  the 
sudden  arrestation  of  leaves  and  their  transformation  into  bracts.  —  \.     Root. 


/ 


-X  p. 


PHLOX    REPTANS. 

CRAWLING   PHLOX. 

NATURAL   ORDER,   POLEMONIACE^. 

Phlox  reptans,  Michaux. —  Stem  erect,  with  procumbent  runners  at  the  base  bearing  round- 
ish-obovate and  rather  fleshy  subsessile  leaves;  upper  stem-leaves  ovate-lanceolate ;  corymb 
few-flowered;  stem  four  to  six  or  eight  inches  high;  leaves  about  an  inch  long,  more 
or  less  pilose  and  ciliate, — the  lower  ones  spatulate-obovate,  tapering  to  short  margined 
petioles;  corolla  deep  purplish-red,  —  the  tube  about  an  inch  long,  a  little  curved.  (Dar- 
lington's Flora  Cestrica.  See  also  Gray's  Mamtal  of  the  Botany  of  the  Northern  United 
States,  Wood's  Class-Book  of  Botany,  and  Chapman's  Flora  of  the  Southern  United  States.) 


OST  of  the  Phloxes  of  the  Eastern  United  States  were 
well  known  to  the  botanists  of  the  earlier  part  of  the 
present  century,  and  the  species  to  which  this  chapter  is  devoted 
was  one  of  their  latest  discoveries.  It  was  first  noticed  in  the 
mountains  of  North  Carolina  by  Michaux,  who  described  it,  and 
gave  it  its  present  name,  Phlox  reptans.  Shortly  afterwards  the 
same  species  was  also  found  in  Georgia  by  John  Frazer,  an 
English  collector,  and  a  representation  of  the  plant  appeared  in 
the  "  Botanical  Magazine,"  where  it  was  described  as  Phlox  sto- 
lonifera.  Frazer  also  sent  seeds  to  England,  from  which  flower- 
ing plants  were  produced  about  1800. 

This  incident  is  well  calculated  to  show  the  origin  of  synonyms, 
which  are  so  often  a  source  of  annoyance  and  difficulty  to  the 
student.  It  must  necessarily  happen  now  and  then  that  two 
people  discover  and  describe  the  same  thing  simultaneously,  or 
very  nearly  so,  without  having  any  knowledge  of  one  another's 
work,  or  that  some  one  describes  a  plant  as  new  which  is  after- 
wards found  to  be  different  in  no  essential  particular  from  one 
alreadv  described.     In  such  cases  the  rule,  that  the  oldest  name 


1 82  PHLOX    REPTANS. CRAWLING    PHLOX. 

shall  have  the  preference,  should  be  strictly  adhered  to.  But  our 
plant  is  still  very  generally  called  PJilox  stolonifera ,  by  English 
authors,  while  American  authors  have  without  exception,  and 
very  justly,  adopted  the  name  Phlox  reptans,  as  first  used  by 
Michaux. 

It  is  curious  to  note  the  coincidence  in  the  names  given  to 
our  plant  by  Michaux,  and  by  Curtis  in  the  "  Botanical  Mag- 
azine," without  any  knowledge  on  the  part  of  the  one,  of  the 
doings  of  the  other.  For  reptans  is  the  Latin  for  "  crawling," 
and  stolonifera  signifies  "  stolon-bearing,"  stolons  being  trailing 
or  reclined  and  rooting  shoots,  or  runners,  which  creep  along 
the  ground,  like  the  runners  of  the  strawberry.  And  indeed  the 
peculiarity  to  which  this  species  owes  its  distinctive  appellation 
is  very  striking.  Most  of  the  Phloxes  are  what  are  called  her- 
baceous plants;  that  is  to  say,  the  stalks  die  down  to  a  root- 
stock  or  crown  every  year,  and  there  is  nothing  left  of  the  plant 
during  winter  but  bud-like  eyes,  from  which  the  flower-stalks 
and  leaves  push  up  in  the  spring.  The  Phlox  reptans,  however, 
is  an  evergreen,  and  the  way  in  which  it  grows  is  well  shown  by 
our  artist.  The  plant  sends  out  a  runner  or  stolon,  and  from  the 
terminal  bud,  made  at  the  end  of  the  stolon  in  the  fall,  a  central 
flower-shoot  ascends,  together  with  another  shoot  which  bears 
nothino:  but  leaves.  Besides  these  two  shoots,  however,  —  both  of 
which  die  in  the  fall,  the  leaf-bearing  one  seemingly  without  hav- 
ing accomplished  anything,  —  a  number  of  others  push  up,  some 
of  which  are  only  scantily  clothed  with  leaves,  while  the  rest 
bear  no  leaves  at  all.  The  scantily  leaved  shoots  often  root  at 
the  tip,  but  the  best  plants  for  the  future  are  produced  by  the 
leafless  runners,  which  form  a  bud  at  the  end  with  roots,  and 
then  die.  All  these  various  kinds  of  shoots  can  be  seen  in  our 
drawing.  In  the  middle  is  the  flower-stem,  to  its  left  is  one  of 
the  scantily  leaved  shoots,  to  the  right  the  full-leaved  shoot,  and 
part  of  the  leafless,  creeping  runner,  which  is  destined  to  form 
a  good,  strong,  new  plant.  In  the  spring,  when  growth  com- 
mences, small   fibres  push  out  from  the  old  runner  (a  feature 


PHLOX    REPTANS. CRAWLING    PHLOX.  1 83 

which  may  also  be  observed  in  our  plate),  which  thus  helps  to 
sustain  the  plant,  but  the  next  year  all  this  dies  away.  The 
plant  is  in  reality  a  wanderer ;  and  in  culture,  to  which  it  readily 
adapts  itself,  it  has  to  be  watched,  and  must  now  and  then  be 
brought  back  to  its  proper  quarters,  as  otherwise  there  is  danger 
that  it  will  quietly  walk  away  and  eventually  disappear  entirely 
from  the  florist's  collection. 

It  seems  almost  unnecessary  to  call  attention  to  the  advantages 
which  this  plant  offers  to  the  ornamental  designer.  The  almost 
entire  leaves,  of  a  noble  simplicity  of  form  ;  the  very  straight  and 
precise  flower-stalk ;  the  few  flowers,  set  on  the  summit,  at  reg- 
ular distances  from  each  other,  like  the  arms  of  a  candelabrum ; 
the  corolla,  with  its  rounded  segments  arranged  carefully  one 
over  the  other,  and  disposed  so  as  to  produce  a  symmetrical 
outline  ;  and  finally  the  whole  arrangement  of  the  parts  in  their 
relation  to  each  other,  —  all  these  go  to  make  a  combination 
which  can  readily  be  turned  to  good  use  where  more  graceful 
lines  would  not  be  in  harmony  with  the  surroundings.  In  cases 
where  an  expression  of  strength  is  desired,  our  plant  might  be 
excellently  well  employed  ornamentally,  to  emphasize  the  func- 
tions of  the  constructive  parts ;  and  as  it  is  strictly  an  American 
plant  —  a  member  of  an  exclusively  American  family  —  it  will 
be  appropriate  in  connection  with  any  work  of  a  national  char- 
acter. 

The  geographical  distribution  of  this  beautiful  Phlox  has  not 
been  fixed  as  definitely  as  it  might  have  been  by  this  time,  con- 
sidering that  it  is  limited  to  the  older  settled  portions  of  our  own 
country.  We  have  already  seen  that  it  was  found  in  North 
Carolina  by  Michaux,  and  in  Georgia  by  Frazer.  Drummond 
is  credited  with  having  found  it  "  in  the  Alleghanies,"  but  this 
certainly  is  not  very  definite.  Mr.  Peters  is  cited  as  an  authority 
for  the  statement  that  it  exists  in  Kentucky,  and  Prof.  Wood 
says,  "  hillsides  and  mountains,  Indiana  to  South  Carolina."  Dr. 
Chapman  says,  "  damp,  shady  woods  near  Washington,  Wilkes 
County,   Georgia,  and    northward    along    the   mountains ";    and 


184  PHLOX  REPTANS. CRAWLING  PHLOX. 

Dr.  Gray,  finally,  gives  in  a  general  way,  "  damp  woods,  Penn- 
sylvania, Kentucky,  and  southward."  The  local  Floras  rarely 
mention  it.  It  is  not  in  Willis'  catalogue  of  New  Jersey  plants, 
nor  in  Beardslee's  list  for  Ohio.  Coleman  reports  it  as  occur- 
ring in  Michigan,  and  in  the  "  Botanical  Gazette  "  he  speaks  of 
a  white  variety  which  he  found  at  Grand  Rapids,  Iowa.  We 
have  seen  that  Prof.  Wood  gives  Indiana  as  one  of  its  locations, 
but  it  does  not  occur  in  any  of  the  counties  of  which  the 
Floras  are  given  in  the  Geological  Survey  of  that  State.  It 
evidently  prefers  to  keep  to  high  elevations,  chiefly  in  southern 
ranges,  and  there  it  will  probably  be  found  most  at  home  in 
cool,  moist  woods. 

The  time  of  flowering  of  the  PJdox  rcptans  is  given  as  May 
by  some  authors,  and  as  June  by  others  ;  while  English  writers, 
who,  of  course,  speak  of  the  plant  only  in  its  cultivated  state, 
give  it  as  from  May  to  September.  A  good  deal,  no  doubt, 
depends  on  the  situation.  In  a  warm,  sunny  spot  its  flowering 
time  would  perhaps  be  shortened.  It  does  quite  well  in  our 
gardens,  however,  and  with  j^roper  attention  it  would  probably 
become  the  parent  of  a  very  beautiful  race.  All  the  Phloxes  are 
changeable,  and  this  species  is  not  likely  to  be  an  exceiDtion  to 
the  rule,  as  it  shows  some  variations  in  color,  even  in  its  natural 
state.  Some  writers  describe  the.  flowers  as  rose,  purple,  or  pale 
red,  and  a  pure  white  variety  is  reported  by  Mr.  Coleman,  as 
before  stated.  Without  a  doubt,  therefore,  its  capabilities  for 
floral  improvement  must  be  very  great. 

As  the  plant  is  not  frequent  where  the  foot  of  man  usually 
treads,  it  has  not  yet  attracted  general  attention,  and  hence  is 
still  without  a  generally  accepted  common  name.  We  must 
therefore  be  satisfied  with  the  translation  of  its  botanical  name, 
"  Crawling  Phlox,"  as  given  by  Dr.  Darlington. 


Plate  47. 


Chrysopsis  Mariana. 


L.  Pramg  &  Company, Boston 


CHRYSOPSIS    MARIANA. 

MARYLAND     GOLDEN     STAR. 

NATURAL   ORDER,    COMPOSIT^E    (ASTERaCE/E    OF    LINDLEY) 

CHRYSOPSIS  Mariana,  Nuttall.  — Perennial ;  stem  one  to  two  feet  high,  simple,  covered  with 
loose  silky  deciduous  hairs;  lowest  leaves  spatulate-oblong,  entire  or  slightly  serrate; 
the  upper  ones  lanceolate,  sessile,  entire  ;  corymb  small,  mostly  simple  and  umbellate, 
cone-like  in  the  bud ;  peduncles  and  involucre  glandular.  (Chapman's  Flora  of  the 
Southern  United  States.  See  also  Gray's  Manual  of  the  Botany  of  the  JVortkern  United 
States,  and  Wood's  Class-Book  of  Botany.) 

HE  natural  orders  into  which  plants  are  divided  have, 
with  but  few  exceptions,  been  named  from  some  repre- 
sentative genus  belonging  to  them.  Thus  the  order  of  RosacecE 
received  its  name  from  Rosa,  or  the  Rose  Family ;  Rantuicu- 
lacecu  from  Ramtncidus,  the  Crowfoot  Family ;  and  so  on. 
Among  the  exceptions  alluded  to,  the  order  which  embraces 
CInysopsis  Mariana  is  generally  found  ;  for  It  is  called  Compo- 
sitcr  by  most  botanists,  not  from  any  of  the  genera  belonging  to 
it,  but  rather  as  descriptive  of  the  compound  character  of  its 
flowers,  each  flower,  although  having  the  appearance  of  but  a 
single  one,  being  in  reality  composed  of  an  aggregate  of  a  num- 
ber of  florets  or  small  flowers,  all  placed  on  one  common  recep- 
tacle. Dr.  Lindley,  however,  a  well-known  English  writer  on 
botany,  endeavored  to  secure  uniformity  in  this  respect,  and  in 
his  book  entitled  "  The  Vegetable  Kingdom,"  he  therefore 
dropped  the  few  exceptional  names,  and  replaced  them  by 
others  modelled  on  the  q;eneral  rule.  To  the  old  order  Com- 
posit(E  he  gave  the  name  of  AsteracccE^  from  the  large  and  cele- 
brated genus  Aster,  which  belongs  to  it.  Most  modern  botanists, 
indeed,    do    not   seem    to    have   adopted    Dr.   Lindley  s    views, 


1 86  CHRYSOPSIS    MARIANA. MARYLAND    GOLDEN    STAR. 

although  the  reasons  advanced  by  him  are  certainly  very  good. 
Under  these  circumstances,  we  have  thought  it  advisable  to 
give  both  names  a  j^lace  at  the  head  of  our  chapter. 

The  genus  Chiysopsis  is  not  far  removed  from  the  true 
Asters,  and  is  intermediate  between  them  and  the  European 
genus  Imila,  to  which  Elecampane  belongs.  The  species  to 
which  this  chapter  is  devoted  was  itself  formerly  looked  upon 
as  an  Iimla,  and  Miller,  in  his  "  Gardener's  Dictionar}^"  pub- 
lished in  1760,  speaks  of  it  as  Inula  Mariana.  Nuttall  was  the 
first  to  point  out  the  essential  differences  between  the  two 
genera  in  18 18,  and  to  him  we  also  owe  the  present  name  of 
our  genus,  Chrysopsis,  which,  as  he  tells  us,  he  gave  to  it  from 
the  fact  that,  although  it  had  some  of  the  characters  of  a  class 
of  Asters  with  corymbose  inflorescence,  it  always  differed  from 
the  latter  in  the  "prevailing  yellow  color  of  the  flowers."  In 
most  cases,  botanists  regard  color  very  slightly  in  establishing 
the  characters  of  a  genus,  and  the  peculiarity  must,  therefore, 
have  been  very  striking  in  this  instance  to  have  induced  Nuttall 
to  base  a  generic  name  on  it.  Chrysopsis  is  from  the  Greek 
words  chrysos,  gold,  and  opsis,  aspect,  appearance,  sight.  Our 
genus,  however,  differs  from  Inula  not  only  in  general  appear- 
ance, which,  as  a  matter  of  course,  carries  some  weight  in  a 
natural  system,  but  there  is  also  a  difference  in  the  seeds. 
In  our  plants,  they  are  compressed  and  ovate-oblong,  while  in 
Inula  they  are  either  four-sided  or  round. 

As  Inula  is  not  a  real  native  plant  in  the  United  States, 
although  it  grows  wild  in  many  localities,  having  escaped  from 
gardens,  it  will  not  find  a  place  in  our  work ;  but  considering 
that  it  was  so  closely  connected  with  our  Chrysopsis  for  a  long 
time,  and  as  we  may  have  no  opportunity  to  refer  to  it  again, 
we  may  perhaps  be  excused  for  dwelling  for  a  moment  on  the 
history  of  the  family  name,  which  formerly  used  to  be  com- 
mon to  both.  The  botanical  name  of  Elecampane  is  Inula 
Hclcniitm.  The  attempts  to  trace  the  etymology  of  the  generic 
appellation,  Inula^  have  been  given  up  as  barren  by  most  bota- 


CIIRYSOPSIS    MARIANA. MARYLAND    GOLDEN    STAR.  iSj 

nists,  but  it  seems  to  us  that  Inula  may  be  a  corruption  of  the 
original  name  of  the  plant,  which,  according  to  the  earlier 
accounts,  was  probably  dedicated  to  St.  Helen  by  some  of  the 
Eastern  nations.  In  Italy,  also,  it  is  often  spoken  of  as  "  Elenio," 
and  even  as  far  north  as  Denmark,  it  is  generally  called  "  St. 
Helen's  Rood."  It  is  hardly  necessary  to  point  out  that  the 
same  name  is  still  preserved  in  the  specific  appellation  of  the 
Elecampane,  /.  Hclcnmvt.  Bauhin,  one  of  the  oldest  botanical 
writers,  says  it  is  probably  the  plant  referred  to  in  some  legend 
as  having  sprung  from  tears  shed  by  the  famous  Helen  of 
Troy.  The  oldest  name  found  in  the  herbals,  or  books  on 
herbs,  appears  to  be  "  Ala  campana,"  which  name  is  based  on 
the  fact  that  the  plant  is  abundantly  found  in  the  Campana, 
the  country  around  Naples.  We  see  that,  whatever  may  have 
been  the  origin  of  Inula,  the  derivation  of  the  common  name. 
Elecampane,  is  clearly  accounted  for. 

The  Chrysopsis  Mariana  seems  to  have  been  the  first  of  its 
genus  known  in  England,  where  it  was  introduced  in  1742, 
according  to  Philip  Miller,  by  Dr.  Thomas  Dale,  from  Maryland, 
whence  its  specific  name  Mariana.  Since  that  time  a  number 
of  other  species  have  been  discovered,  both  in  the  Atlantic  and 
the  Pacific  regions  of  our  country.  Our  present  species  is  not 
found  north  of  New  York,  but  within  that  State  it  occurs  in 
many  places  on  Manhattan  Island,  and  becomes  very  abundant 
in  New  Jersey,  where  it  is  one  of  the  commonest  plants  in  the 
dry  and  sandy  barrens.  It  is  not  common  in  Pennsylvania, 
although  not  infrequent  in  the  region  drained  by  the  Wissa- 
hickon,  which  supplied  the  specimen  from  which  our  drawing 
was  made.  Towards  the  West,  it  does  not  appear  to  extend 
north  of  Southern  Ohio,  but  from  there  southward  to  Florida 
it  is  often  met  with  on  the  lower  elevations,  becoming  more 
abundant  as  it  approaches  the  sea-coast.  It  is  in  no  list  from 
Kentucky,  west  of  the  mountains,  as  far  as  we  know,  but  it 
probably  grows  in  some  of  the  Mississippi  States.  In  Pennsyl- 
vania it  is  generally  found  in  half-shaded  woods,  but  in  other 
states  it  seems  to  favor  more  open  places. 


1 88  CHRYSOPSIS    MARIANA. MARYLAND    GOLDEN    STAR. 

In  our  description,  as  quoted  from  Dr.  Chapman's  work,  we 
have  spoken  of  the  stem  as  being  "  covered  with  loose,  silky, 
deciduous  hairs,"  and  the  attentive  reader  may  have  noticed 
that  this  hardly  corresponds  with  our  drawing.  The  explana- 
tion of  the  apparent  discrepancy  is,  however,  foreshadowed  in 
the  word  "  deciduous."  Our  plant,  in  common  with  several 
other  species  of  the  same  genus,  has  a  peculiar,  cobwebby 
appearance  when  young,  which  always  attracts  the  attention  of 
the  observer.  This  appearance  is  due  to  the  light  and  tangled 
hairs  which  then  clothe  the  stem,  but  which  are  shed  as  the 
jDlant  grows  older.  Thus,  in  the  specimen  chosen  for  our  illus- 
tration, these  silky  hairs  have  all  fallen  off,  and  nothing  is  seen 
of  a  hairy  appearance  except  a  coarser,  somewhat  glandular 
kind  of  hair,  which  remain,  as  shown  by  the  plate,  not  only  on 
the  stem,  but  also  on  the  peduncles  or  flower-stalks.  These 
two  conditions  of  our  species  must  be  borne  in  mind  by  the  col- 
lector, since  the  hair  is  usually  referred  to  as  characteristic  in 
the  descriptions  given  by  botanists. 

Like  most  of  the  plants  allied  to  the  Asters,  our  species  is  an 
autumn  bloomer.  In  Pennsylvania,  for  instance,  it  flowers  early 
in  September.  There  is  such  an  abundance  of  yellow  flowers 
of  the  asteraceous  order  at  this  season  that  there  is  hardly  a 
desire  for  new  species,  especially. as  many  of  them  have  rather 
a  w^eedy  look.  But  the  Chrysopsis  Mariana  has  a  very  elegant 
habit  of  growth,  and  it  ought,  therefore,  to  be  welcome  in  gar- 
dens, although  we  do  not  know  of  any  attempts  to  cultivate  it. 

We  know  of  no  generally  accepted  English  common  name 
for  the  genus.  Dr.  Gray  names  it  "  Golden  Aster,"  which  is 
very  pretty,  but  apt  to  be  misunderstood,  as  these  plants  are  not 
true  Asters.  "  Gold  Flower  "  would  be  quite  appropriate,  but 
unfortunately  this  has  been  given  to  a  sort  of  poppy  in  CaHfor- 
nia.  We  may  get  out  of  the  difficulty,  however,  by  translating 
"Aster,"  and  so  we  shall  call  our  flower  the  "  Maryland  Golden 
Star." 

Explanation  of  the  Plate.  —  i.     Stalk  with  flowers.  —  z.     Achene  and  pappus. 


IRIS    VIRGINICA. 

BOSTON    IRIS. 

NATURAL   ORDER,    IRIDACE/E. 

Iris  Virginica,  Linnjeus.  —  Stem  round,  slender,  few-flowered;  leaves  linear,  long;  flowers 
beardless;  ovary  triangular,  the  side  doubly  grooved.  Rliizoma  fleshy.  Stem  smooth 
one  to  two  lines  in  diameter,  one  foot  to  two  feet  high,  branching  at  top  and  liearing  two 
to  six  flowers.  Bracts  at  the  base  of  the  branches  withering.  Leaves  few,  alternate, 
grass-like,  six  to  ten  inches  long,  amplexicaul.  Sepals  narrow,  yellow,  edged  with  purple. 
Petals  linear-lanceolate.  {\<[oo(\.'s  C/ass-Book  of  Botany.  See  also  Qx'z.f^  Manual  of  the 
Botanv  of  the  N'orthcrn  United  States,  and  Chapman's  Flora  of  the  Southern  United 
States.) 

HE  Iris  is  well  known  to  all  lovers  of  flowers.     It  occurs 
abundantly  in  a  wild  condition,  and  is  a  favorite  in  gar- 
dens;    it  has  frequently  been   treated   in  poetry,  painting,  and 
sculpture,  and  plays  an  important  part  in  history.     In  mythol- 
ogy it  is  said  to  have  come  from  heaven.     Iris  was  a  messenger 
employed  by  Juno,  and  she  is  generally  represented  as  sitting 
behind  her  mistress,  her  wings  glittering  like  pearl,  and  radiant 
with  all  the  colors  of  the   rainbow.     Her  name,  indeed,  which 
literally  means  "  eye  of  heaven,"  is  the  Greek  word  for  rainbow. 
The  historical  importance  of  the  Iris  is  due  to  the  fact  that  it 
became  the  national  flower  of  France.     As  such  it  has  acquired 
a  world-wide  reputation  under  the  name  of  "  Flower  de  luce  "  or 
"  Fleur  de  lis,"  which   is   nothing  but  a  corruption  of  "  Fleur  de 
Louis."     But  it  had  a  political   significance   long  before  it  was 
officially  adopted  by  the   kings  of   France.     It  was  used  as  an 
emblem  by  the   Byzantine  emperors,  although  in  what  relation 
does  not  now  appear,  and  the  early  Prankish   kings  of    France 
also   employed   it.     There  is  a  legend,  quoted  by  Prior,  that  a 
shield  filled  with  these  flowers  was  brought  to  King  Clovis  while 


190 


IRIS    VIRGINICA. BOSTON    IRIS. 


engaged  in  battle,  and  King  Louis  VII  adopted  the  flower,  in 
June,  II 37,  as  the  national  emblem  of  France,  possibly  to  per- 
petuate the  memory  of  some  such  event.  The  type  of  the 
French  "  Fleur  de  lis  "  is  supposed  to  be  the  white  Florentine 
Iris,  which  produces  the  orris-root  of  commerce. 

There  seems  to  be  little  doubt  that  the  original  "  Flower  of 
Louis  "was  an  Iris.  English  writers,  however,  misled  by  the 
corrupted  form  of  "  Felur  de  lis,"  have  imagined  the  flower  to 
be  a  lily,  and  this  idea  is  still  current  in  the  English  literature  of 
our  own  day.  Even  Webster's  Dictionary  has  adopted  this 
idea,  for  there  we  read :  "  Fleur-de-lis,  French,  flower  of  the  lily, 
corrupted  in  English  to  flower-de-luce.  The  royal  insignia  of 
France,  whether  originally  representing  a  lily  or  the  head  of  a 
javelin,  is  disputed."  Under  "  Flower-de-luce,"  however,  where 
no  allusion  is  made  to  the  royal  insignia  of  France,  the  same 
dictionary  says  that  the  word  is  identical  with  Iris,  and  quotes 
Spenser  as  an  authority.  But  this  quotation  can  hardly  be 
called  apt,  if,  as  the  dictionary  intimates,  the  three  terms, 
"  Flower-de-luce,"  "  Flower  of  the  Lily,"  and  "  Iris,"  are  to  be 
looked  upon  as  identical.  Spenser,  if  we  may  judge  from  the 
following  lines,  was  evidently  quite  well  aware  of  the  difference 
between  the  "  Fleur-de-lis  "  and  the  lily  :  — 

"  Strow  me  the  grounde  with  Daffadown-Dillies, 
And  Cowslips  and  Kingcups,  and  loved  Lillies  ; 

The  pretty  Paunce, 

And  the  Chenisaunce 
Shall  match  with  the  fayre  Floure  Delice." 

On  the  other  hand  it  must  be  admitted  that  Shakespeare,  who 
frequently  refers  to  the  Flower  de  luce,  evidently  regards  it  as  a 
true  lily.     Thus  he  makes  Perdita  say  in  the  "  Winter's  Talc  " : 

"  Bold  oxlips  and 
The  crown  imperial ;  lilies  of  all  kinds, 
The  flower  de  luce  being  one !     Oh,  these  I  lack 
To  make  you  garlands  of ;  and,  my  sweet  friend, 
To  strew  him  o'er  and  o'er." 


IRIS    VIRGINICA. BOSTON    IRIS.  I9I 

Some  commentators  think  that  Shakespeare  merely  classed  the 
Iris  with  the  lilies,  but  a  contemporary  of  the  poet  refers  to  the 
"  Flower  de  luce  "  in  a  manner  which  makes  it  unmistakable  that 
the  white  lily  was  meant,  describing  it  as  having  "  six  leaves 
whiter  than   snow,  and   in   the   middle   the  pretty  little  golden 

hammers." 

Like  so  many  others  of  the  earliest  known  oi  our  native  flow- 
ers, our  present  species  came  to  the  botanists  of  Europe  from 
Virginia,  and  was  therefore  named  /r/j  Virgi?iica  by  Linnaeus. 
Pursh  also  found  the  plant  during  his  wanderings,  and,  suppos- 
ing- it  to  be  different  from  that  described  by  Linnaeus,  named  it 
Iris  prismatica,  in  allusion  to  the  prismatic  shape  of  the  ovary 
(Fig.  4).  The  Linnaean  name,  however,  prevails,  as  /.  Virginica 
and  /.  prismatica  are  now  believed  to  be  identical,  although  Mr. 
Baker,  author  of  a  monograph  on  L-idacece,  and  the  most  recent 
authority  on  these  plants,  maintains  that  the  /.  Virginica  of 
Linnaeus  has  nothing  to  do  with  our  plant,  being,  in  his  opinion, 
only  a  variety  of  /.  versicolor,  and  that,  therefore,  our  Boston  Ins 
should  be  called  by  Pursh's  name,  /.  prismatica.  But  however 
this  may  be,  it  certainly  cannot  be  denied  that  the  generally 
accepted  botanical  name  of  our  plant  gives  no  idea  of  its  geo- 
graphical range,  as  the  species  is  northern  rather  than  southern. 
Dr.  Chapman  embraces  it  in  his  "  Flora  of  the  Southern 
United  States,"  and  locates  it  in  "swamps,  North  Carolina, 
Tennessee,  and  northward."  Prof.  Wood  says  it  is  found  from 
"Massachusetts  to  New  Jersey."  It  is  also  found  in  Maine,  and 
extends  west  to  Lake  Michigan.  It  might  be  looked  for  in  the 
northern  parts  of  Ohio  and  Indiana,  but  it  is  not  in  any  collec- 
tor's lists  from  these  states  that  we  know  of.  The  jDopular 
name  of  the  plant  is  the  "  Boston  Iris,"  and  this  is  much  more 
appropriate,  in  reference  to  its  geographical  centre,  than  "  Vir- 
ginian Iris,"  which  name  it  also  sometimes  receives. 

The  place  of  growth  of  the  Boston  Iris  is  generally  in  swamps. 
In  New  Jersey  and  Delaware  it  is  often  found  blooming  in  very 
dry  places,  but  the  nature  of  these  places  makes  it  evident  that 


192  IRIS    VIRGINICA. BOSTON    IRIS. 

water  stands  In  them  in  winten  All  the  authors  who  mention 
it,  speak  of  it  as  growing  in  wet  or  muddy  places,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Mr.  Ruger,  who,  in  a  note  to  the  "  Bulletin  of  the  Torrey 
Botanical  Club,"  in- the  volume  for  1875,  says  that  it  grows  on 
rocks  at  New  Durham,  In  the  State  of  New  York,  in  company 
with  Sileiie  injlata.  But  whatever  may  be  the  circumstances 
under  which  it  is  forced  to  exist  in  a  state  of  nature,  there  Is  no 
doubt  that  it  prefers  dry,  rich  garden  ground  to  the  swampy 
places  In  which  it  is  originally  found.  Our  Boston  Iris  is,  in- 
deed, one  of  the  prettiest  of  cultivated  plants.  It  blooms  in 
June,  and  the  flowers  follow  one  another  In  close  succession, 
keeping  up  the  display  for  several  weeks.  The  flowers  produce 
seed  in  great  abundance,  and  seedlings  could  no  doubt  be  easily 
raised,  but  the  plants  can  be  propagated  more  readily  by  divid- 
ing the  rhizomas  or  creeping  stems.  In  English  gardens  our 
species  was  under  cultivation  before  the  year   1758. 

The  fertilization  of  the  plant  Is  a  very  interesting  process  to 
the  student.  From  the  arrangement  of  the  stamens  and  pistils, 
it  might  be  supposed  that  its  pollen  cannot  reach  the  stigma 
without  external  aid.  But  the  writer  of  this,  for  the  purpose  of 
keeping  off  the  insects,  placed  fine  gauze  bags  over  some  flow- 
ers which  were  about  to  expand,  and  yet  these  flowers  produced 
perfect  seed  as  well  as  those  which  had  not  been  protected.  We 
can  infer  from  this  that  there  Is  something  still  to  be  learned  In 
regard  to  the  fertilization  of  our  species. 

The  flower  stem  has  a  much  more  branching  character  than 
the  size  of  our  page  would  permit  us  to  show,  but  the  peculiarly 
wavy  or  twisted  growth  of  the  branchlcts,  which,  together  with 
the  delicate,  narrow  leaves,  is  very  characteristic  of  this  species, 
is  well  shown  on  the  plate. 

Our  drawing;  is  from  a  Massachusetts  specimen,  kindly  fur- 
nished  by  Mr.  Jackson  Dawson. 

Explanation  ok  the  Plate.—  i.  Rhizoma,  with  a  primary  and  secondary  terminal  growth, 
from  the  latter  of  which  the  flower-stem  will  grow  the  next  year.  —  2.  Branchlet,  show- 
ing flower  in  bloom  with  an  unopened  bud.  3.  —  ]5ranchlet,  showing  that  the  first  ilower 
is  faded  before  the  second  is  ready  to  expand.  — 4.     Cross  section  of  the  ovary. 


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